Do flip books still exist? I haven’t seen one in years
But I remember them fondly from when I was a kid—holding one in my right hand, with my thumb securely pressed onto the edge of the first page, then ever so slowly and carefully letting my thumb work its way down the book’s pages so the images could be seen in smooth progression. It’s the same way animation and early film reels work. There’s a series of individual pictures, each slightly different than the one before, and they follow each other so smoothly that the viewer sees unbroken motion. I was careful, as a kid, riffling the pages slowly, at first, so I could appreciate the individual images. Then I’d do it again, but so fast this time that objects and actions flew by in super-fast motion, making me laugh.
I think Yukon summers are a perfect topic for a flip book. All kinds of images and experiences shoot by and change rapidly. You really have to pay attention so you don’t miss anything.
The opening section of this hypothetical flip book should be about flowers, one of the first signs of the season. The snow has recently melted, and the days are getting ridiculously long. The first page will zero in on a deep-purple crocus—popping up even before any greenery. Pictured next are lavender Jacob’s Ladder and bright-yellow dandelions, scattered all over the page and surrounded by fresh vibrant green. Next come bluebells and lupine and tiny yellow cinquefoil.
It’s important to notice northern flowers right away, because none of them last for long. Ahhh, then the pure pink of wild roses is closely followed by the purplish-pink exuberance of fireweed, a Yukon favourite. The following pages showcase dark-purple larkspur and monkshood, and we finish the colourful season, and this section, with the yellows of tundra rose shrubs and with blue and red berries for grateful picking and eating.
Section two of the summer flip book requires a wider-angle lens as we note the myriad activities going on around town. There’s music at noon at LePage Park. There’s one festival after another at Shipyards Park, at the Yukon Arts Centre, at Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, and in most Yukon communities. There’s the Canada Day Parade and the Pride Parade, as well as beautiful processions along the waterfront. There’s the Fireweed Community Market every Thursday, and an occasional dance or art or tai chi on the Wharf. There’s outdoor theatre at the Guild Hall. And don’t forget the food trucks—a seasonal treat!
In every picture, on every page, are smiling faces. So when we flip through this section, it’s like the whole Yukon community and all of our visitors are laughing!
The third and final part of this flip book takes our imaginations out of town. There are pictures of happy campers in their RVs, exploring the wonders of mountains, forests and waterways from the vicinity of the 60th parallel—all the way to the Arctic Ocean.
We see paddlers of canoes, kayaks, rafts and SUPs crossing lakes and voyaging down rivers. Bikes zoom along pavement and dirt. And there are pages and pages of hikers, stretching their legs, moving with purpose along quiet trails, through the boreal forest, up and down mountains and across sparkling creeks.
The pictures are full of light and energy and motion. So many images. Such a full spectrum as you flip the pages. It might require several viewings to take it all in. So let’s flip through again …
Section 1—colours of flowers shoot off the pages, almost like fireworks … LIGHTS!
Section 2—people enjoying people at community events and smiling like crazy for the … CAMERA!
Section 3—healthy bodies moving through a fantastic landscape … ACTION!
And right there is the magic of a flip book. It’s a little silent movie you can hold in your hand, to spark memories. During the summer, you want to experience the beauty and fun of each page, so you flip through the pages as slowly as you can in order to savour each image and each moment.Next winter, when you pull the little book out again, your thumb will fff–lip! right through because, looking back, it will seem that summer just flew by.
