The Hymn of the Pearl was originally written for a Christian congregation in the first century AD. In this edition, retold as a children’s story by Lori Nielsen Driggs (a mother of six children and eight grandchildren from South Jordan, Utah) and illustrated by Melissa Tshikamba (a mixed-race artist raised in Alberta, Canada, and educated in Fine Art from Brigham Young University), The Hymn of the Pearl is an origin story answering the questions, “Where do I come from?” and “What is my purpose on earth?” While both of these questions could send an adult into existential uncertainty, the idea that a child could pose these questions early on in their life is important and Driggs tackles these crucial ponderings.
The Hymn of the Pearl is an origin story answering the questions, “Where do I come from?” and “What is my purpose on earth?”
It has been a long time since I have browsed the children’s book section of my local bookstore, but I know the push for diversity has met all corners of publishing, and it may be most pertinent in children’s books because of the abundance of illustrations. Every character in The Hymn of the Pearl is Black, including the divine Mother and Father who bravely send their child into the world and watch over her journey to retrieve the pearl from the serpent. Initially accompanied by two guardians, their child is left to enter Egypt alone, where she settles into a home by the sea, close to the serpent. While adapting to her new home, the child gets distracted from her quest with the kindness of strangers in the form of invitations to lavish parties and feasts. During these moments of distraction, the divine Mother and Father watch their child forget her mission and write her a letter reminding her of the promise she made when leaving home. Their child receives the letter and remembers her divine duty, then bravely faces the serpent with the words of her parents and a purple cloak, illustrated by Tshikamba with lush jewel tones and intricate details. The cloak acts as a reminder of the beautiful life the child left and will return to with the completion of her journey.
Driggs’ uses chiasmus composition to tell this story and highlights a major turning point in the middle of the book. Leading up to this point, the protagonist receives a special letter from her parents reminding her of her important quest to retrieve the pearl. The letter is mentioned twice, and it was vaguely unclear if it is the same one (The letter awoke me from my deep sleep … I found my letter on the road before me). I doubt this moment of confusion will be felt by younger readers, and it did not detract from the beauty of the tale. To me, the letter served as a reminder from her parents of their love and hope, as well as protection as the child moved closer towards the serpent.
Gorgeously illustrated and told from an exciting first person point of view, The Hymn of the Pearl is a wonderful addition to any children’s library, celebrating cultural differences while reminding young readers of the sacred origins that bind us together.
