The Blue Pool of Questions

by Maya Abu Al-Hayyat, Hassan Manasrah (Illustrator)

"I love this book with all my heart."—Naomi Shihab Nye, Young People's Poet Laureate, 2019-2021 Be curious, always ask questions, dive into the blue pool. A man who doesn’t quite fit in arrives in a city full of busy people who don’t have much time for him. One day, he asks so many questions that they form a giant pool in the middle of the city. Eventually, the man gathers up the courage to dive into the pool looking for answers, but what will he find? The Blue Pool of Questions underscores the importance of curiosity, the necessity of asking questions, and the courage required to break free from the status quo.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2017

About the author

Maya Abu Al-Hayyat is a Beirut-born, Palestinian novelist and poet living in Jerusalem.

Abu Al-Hayyat is the author of four collections of poems, including You Can Be the Last Leaf (Milkweed, 2022), translated by Fady Joudah; four novels, including the latest, No One Knows His Blood Type (Dar Al-Adab, 2013); and numerous children’s stories, including The Blue Pool of Questions (Penny Candy Books, LLC, 2017). Her work has appeared in A Bird Is Not a Stone: An Anthology of Contemporary Palestinian Poetry (Freight Books, 2014). She is also the editor of The Book of Ramallah: A City in Short Fiction (Comma Press, 2021).

Abu Al-Hayyat is the director of Palestine Writing Workshop, an institution that seeks to encourage reading in Palestinian communities through creative writing projects and storytelling with children and teachers.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very original look at what is like to be different in a new place; questions of belonging and finding your way are addressed through the metaphor of a blue pool of questions. Very good book for parents to read and explain to children (book may be too abstract for smaller children).

[Sue Mosher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a little confusing but a wonderful story with intriguing illustrations.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short but captivating tale is accompanied by the most beautiful, intriguing illustrations that will have you reviewing each page over and over again.

[Allison Renner]

Very thought-provoking book about the importance of asking questions to make a difference.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Those looking for cultural diversity in children's books will be glad to discover this title. It is written by "an award-winning Palestinian novelist, poet, and children's book writer." The illustrator "won an Etisalat Award for best illustration for the Palestinian edition" of the book. And the translator is a Palestinian-American photographer.

All credentials aside, the book tells the story of a man who comes to a city where he doesn't fit in. Everyone thinks he is odd because "He sang strange tunes. Dried flowers fell from his sleeves. Books slept inside his coat like shoes in a closet." The city dwellers are too busy to deal with someone so different, especially with all his questions that gather into a big blue pool in the streets. "They knew everyday answers so well that they had forgotten what questions looked like, and the pool of questions frightened them." Isn't that what most people do? They are so busy with their everyday lives that they forget to sing a song or arrange flowers or ask questions, and when someone else does those things, it is unnerving and makes them uncomfortable. The ending illustration with the man a part of a starry constellation leaves us with the admonition "to ask more questions, throw them into the blue pool, be brave, and dive in."

In a funny twist, I was thinking that the lyrical text reminded me of Naomi Shihab-Nye's writing. When I went to Amazon to post a review, I saw that Naomi was quoted in the editorial review section for the book. She recommends giving "it to all your friends, big and little." Good idea.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This highly philosophical picture book import tells the tale of a strange man who comes to a busy city, wandering the streets, singing to himself, books in his jacket and dried flowers falling from his clothes. He is filled with questions and these questions emanate from his self and form a giant pool of unanswered questions. The pool fills the city, and isolates and frightens the busy city dwellers, who have no time for questions, and so encourage the man to dive into the pool of questions. Doing so, the man is befriended by "the answer" and soon their friendship forms a shield to protect himself from the jeering of the city dwellers.

Of great attraction are Hassan Manasrah's abstract detailed illustrations that reveal the man's varied emotional range and high colors carry the readers along that emotional jaunt.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a man roams the city streets and goes about his business, those around him don't really understand him. He has many questions, which form a pool, which grows larger with each day. While the citizens of his city seem more annoyed by his presence and his questions than anything, he finally follows a voice encouraging him to dive into the pool. Once he does so, he finds happiness and some of the answers to his questions. While I like how this story encourages risk taking and embracing something new as well as asking questions, it seems more suited to older readers than to younger ones who may find it hard to understand what's going on due to the book's surrealistic nature.

[Eileen Winfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man lives in a city and is lonely because he has odd habits and asks endless questions (or has questions in his mind, it’s hard to say as no questions are asked in this story). Then, all his questions turn into a giant pool of water that blocks the city. He eventually dives into the water meets The Answer, escapes the world and becomes the stars.
I’ve missed something here (or maybe something has been lost in translation?) because I don’t really get it. But, the reviewers quoted on the flap have been really moved. The illustrations are lovely. Perhaps a good option to show children a book from another culture or perspective.

[Annie MacPherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was unexpectedly transported into the poetic and melancholy story world by flowing language and strange, tense artwork... Compare to Shaun Tan, but perhaps more emotional. The cover really lets it down, unfortunately.

[أميرة · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in awe of this book. Inspiring art. Powerful text. Just WOW!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgoL5...

[Sticky Note Book Recs Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars as a book for adults. 2 stars as a book for kids.