WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY
VANESSA ALEXANDRE
DID YOU KNOW THAT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, A MASSIVE RIVER IS SOARING THROUGH THE SKY?
ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS A RIVER WITH NO BED, MOUTH, OR SOURCE. IT WAS A DIFFERENT RIVER, WHICH HAD NO GROUND, BUT WINGS TO FLY. IT WAS A FLYING RIVER.
ITS FAVORITE PLACE WAS THE TREETOPS, WHERE ANIMALS AND PLANTS LIVE IN HARMONY.
THERE, THE FLYING RIVER FROLICKED WITH THE AIR, GATHERING LITTLE RAINDROPS. AND WHEN IT FELT ITS WINGS WERE WEIGHED DOWN, IT WOULD SIMPLY TAKE A FLIGHT...
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Severed Wings” was written to demonstrate to children the beauty and significance of the Amazon’s renowned “flying rivers”. These rivers are actually large volumes of water in the form of steam and clouds that are carried by the winds. They originate from the Amazon Basin and bring rain to the Andes Mountains and multiple states in Brazil, including São Paulo , Minas Gerais , and Mato Grosso .
AN INVISIBLE RIVER!
But where do the waters of flying rivers come from, since we can’t see them?
They originate in the Atlantic Ocean and are drawn to the Amazon Rainforest, which serves as a vast water reservoir, making the generated moisture turn into an immense amount of rain. As it rains over the forest, the water returns as steam. It is as if there is a rechargeable rain battery that is constantly being replenished! Trees play an essential role in this cycle, as they store and release rainwater.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES
With deforestation, burning, and the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest, the flying rivers are in great peril: without the presence of trees, the flying rivers cannot “fly,” as they are a critical component in the water storage process. That is, no trees, no water.
WILDFIRES
For this reason, fires are very harmful to the flow of the flying rivers and to the preservation of life in the forest. In addition to destroying the environment and the habitat of several animals, they contribute to global warming. Unfortunately, if no action is taken, the consequences may be irreversible. The flying rivers will disappear and the availability of water will decrease drastically… The forest as we know it today may no longer exist.
TURNED TO NIGHT THE DAY THAT
In 2019, several cities in Brazil reported a very sorrowful event: the sky was blanketed with ashen clouds. In addition to other weather events, this occurred as a result of smoke particles originating from the fires in the Amazon Region. This means that we all suffer the consequences of deforestation. Even events that take place far from us can have a detrimental effect on our lives, health, and society.
AMAZON DAY
September 5th is Amazon Day. It was chosen due to the date of the establishment of the Amazonas province, which was approved by Dom Pedro II in 1850. It now marks a date to remind us of the importance of preserving this great forest.
MY ROLE IN PRESERVATION
There are many things we can do to preserve the forest and, consequently the flying rivers. Here are some tips:
• Reduce the consumption of disposable items such as plastic, paper, and straws. Practice recycling whenever possible!
• Show your support for forest protection organizations and groups.
• Reduce energy consumption. Working together to tackle global warming means fighting against the destruction of forests.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My name is Vanessa, I’m an author and illustrator of children’s books and I work with publishers in Brazil, Spain, the United States, and Portugal, as well as illustrate textbooks.
I have participated in exhibitions such as the Cow Parade in São Paulo and the Jaguar Parade in São Paulo and New York. I was also chosen to be part of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Refugiarte exhibition.
Writing and illustrating “Asas Cortadas” [Severed Wings] was a challenge. Offering my interpretation of the cycle of the flying rivers and demonstrating their importance for the balance of nature and the existence of life is a great honor, as it has allowed me to imprint a bit of what I believe in each image: the necessity of preserving nature, conserving finite resources, respecting indigenous peoples, caring for animals, and preserving the memory of all those who fight (or have fought) for the Amazon Rainforest, the great cradle of the flying rivers, which has been so greatly affected by deforestation and burning.
While I was conceiving the story and the illustrations, certain details were of utmost importance. One of them refers to the day that turned into night, which happened in Brazil in 2019. It is a way to show that nature communicates with us and, living on a unique planet, events restricted to a part of the world can have a profound impact on the lives of many people in other areas.
Moreover, the illustration of the hands rebuilding the forest alludes to the real people who dedicate their lives to protecting the environment: indigenous peoples, journalists, scientists, activists – to name a few.
My hope is that after reading this story, every time we look up to the sky, we will be reminded of the immense and generous river that brings life to us all.
AN INVISIBLE RIVER CROSSES THE SKY EVERY DAY, RIGHT ABOVE OUR HEADS. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT, BUT SINCE IT’S HAD ITS WINGS RUTHLESSLY SEVERED, IT’S BEEN IN GRAVE DANGER… WHAT RIVER IS THIS? WHAT HAPPENED TO IT?