《说谎的毯子》

A tiger lies on the floor of a deserted* room, telling lies to a newly awakened stone statue: Long ago, the tiger says, he had a family, but he was shot and stuffed* with straw, and glass balls were sewn where his eyes had been. Later, however, he says he was made in a factory out of artificial fibers*. Which story is true?

The statue, a girl named Faith who is holding a book, can't say. She doesn't know who she is or where she's from, whether she's always been made of stone or whether she's under a spell*. All she knows is that she is awake, and she listens to the carpet's tales.

The tiger carpet's stories contradict* each other, but, the tiger says: "I prefer to think that they are all true at once."

Reading "The Lying Carpet" is a dreamy experience - the language is lovely; the free verse* has a special rhythm*; the illustrations* are beautiful - a mix of childlike cartoon, Moorish* and Indian art, and illuminated manuscript*.

A parable about outgrowing your childhood and becoming what you want to be, this is a book for anyone who has ever felt "stuck" in their circumstances.

The story raises questions of identity* and memory and the roles they play in shaping our perception* of the world and ourselves, and is told with a simple charm that will attract children and adults on an altogether different level. The book is simply wonderful.

Author David Lucas is an author and an illustrator of children's books. Some of the published credits of Lucas include "Nutmeg*," "The Robot and the Bluebird," and "Peanut."

deserted 荒凉的

stuff 填满

artificial fiber 人造纤维

spell 咒语

contradict 互相矛盾

free verse 自由诗

rhythm 节奏

illustration 插图

Moorish 摩尔人的

illuminated manuscript 手抄本装饰画

identity 身份

perception 看法

nutmeg 肉豆蔻