In the enlightening picture book The Vanishing Sea, author/illustrator Dinara Mirtalipova (Woven of the World) introduces young readers to the tragic disappearance of the Aral Sea and the effects it has had on Central Asia. Her distinctive art, inspired by Uzbek and Russian folklore, accompanies the impassioned narrative, producing a singular cautionary tale.
"A long, long time ago, when the earth was removing its icy blanket, the Aral Sea was born. The lake was so vast that the People called her MOTHER SEA." The Aral Sea, situated between Kazakhstan in the north and Uzbekistan in the south, earned its designation of "sea" because "before the 1960s it was the fourth-largest lake in the world." Mirtalipova explains how vital it was to the area: "Like a caring mother, the sea gave [the people] her biggest fish... water to drink... ALL of her resources." Though the Aral enabled the people to feed themselves, build cities, and make money, they did not focus on preservation, and the Aral shrank to virtually nothing. "When the people returned to ask for MORE, they realized there was very little left of Mother Sea."
In her highly informative and striking work, Mirtalipova includes extensive back matter that has a timeline, an ecological impact explanation, and information about the fish found in the Aral Sea. The author/illustrator's artwork is transfixing as it uses a brilliant yet limited color palette, consistent floral patterns, perspective changes, and dramatic line work. Mirtalipova draws the audience into a land with which they may be unfamiliar and emphasizes the colossal changes it experiences with impressive visual precision. Any reader may find enrichment in this exquisite work. --Jen Forbus, freelancer