In LATE TODAY, written by Jungyoon Huh, illustrated by Myungae Lee, and translated by Aerin Park, a narrator explains that “we can’t be late today.” But a wet, bedraggled kitten is crossing the bridge. No one wants to see it hurt, but “no one ha[s] the courage to save her.” Until one person, “gripped by fear,” SCREEECH! pulls over, “hop[ing] to hear a kitten’s cry.” Thankfully, there’s a forlorn “mew, mew,” and the driver rushes over to save the quivering kitten. The narrator concludes that “today [is] a good day to be late.” It’s a strongly affecting story, inspired by a kitten the writer was not able to rescue, sparely worded, strategically using sounds—and silence—to move readers. The text pairs perfectly with dynamic colored pencil and oil pastel illustrations that feature a good number of extremely effective wordless spreads to ratchet up suspense and bring this moving story to life.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE, written by Ingrid Law and illustrated by Xin Li, gently, lovingly, reminds children that even when bedtime feels “like it’s about to be you and no one else until morning,” they are “not alone.” Not alone echoes the nightlight, the father or mother, and the “soft fluff of [their] best-loved, most-hugged” stuffed animal. Not alone, “hoots the ever-watchful owl” that’s “draped in moonbeams;” not alone, calls the train, “it’s horn echoing from faraway tracks.” Via Law’s sweet, poetic language and Li’s warm and welcoming watercolor, gouache, crayon, colored pencil, and dried pastel art, the “pages of this book” softly, explicitly, reassure the child that they “are never alone.”
ZEBRA AND YAK: THE BACKWARDS ALPHABET BOOK, by Paul Friedrich, is a distinctive, really funny alphabet book. It does go backwards, and as someone who proudly memorized the alphabet in reverse as a kid, this speaks to me! When the book gets started, Zebra is complaining about not getting a cue from xylophone (“I didn’t hear X is for Xylophone”), and insists that the story should start with “A is for Apple.” The narrator argues, too, in fact the whole book is a silly, bantering argument as we work our way back to apple…and a surprise twist! Chockfull of zany banter and hysterical cartoony ballpoint pen and digital illustrations, it’s terrific!
Gentle, uncluttered, and poignant, CLARA AND THE MAN WITH BOOKS IN HIS WINDOW, written by María Teresa Andruetto, illustrated by Martina Trach, and translated by Elisa Amado, tells the story of how Clara is sent by her mother with a load of laundry for “the man in the big house.” The man who leaves money under the mat and “never goes out.” When Clara appears interested, he gives her a book. And another, and another, and he invites her inside where they talk about courage, and when Clara forgets her book the man finds his own courage and takes it to her. The watercolor, pencil, monoprint, and digitally collaged illustrations are distinctive in this heartfelt Spanish import.
MY FRIEND MAY, by Julie Flett, is another cat story, this one about Margaux and May, and how they became friends. When May goes out she mostly sticks close to home, and she always comes home for dinner. Until one day, even when Margaux calls and calls and calls, May doesn’t return. Everyone gathers to look, but May is nowhere to be found. That evening, Margaux helps her auntie Nitôsis pack up to move to the city. They both worry about May, but the next night, when Nitôsis is putting things away in her new home, “meow!” she hears May! Once May is home, she “purr[s] a long purr,” nestles into Margaux’s chest, and understands that “the best place to get lost [is] in the long grass behind the house, with her friend.” This tenderhearted story unfolds at an easy pace, in a reassuring voice, with clever, loving illustrations in pastel and pencil that are digitally collaged. Back matter adds a personal note, as well as some thoughts and examples of the Cree language.
OH DEAR, LOOK WHAT I GOT, written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, is a delightfully silly, rhyming romp by the uber-talented creators of the classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. In this one, a boy goes to a shop to get a carrot, and “Oh dear they gave me… a parrot!” He asks for a hat, only to get a cat, and when he wants a coat, he gets… well, you know. There’s a lovely, cumulative element to the story, and the repeating refrain, “Oh dear, look what I got! Do I want that? No, I do NOT!” keeps readers rolling along—right up until Rosen perfectly subverts it at the end. Oxenbury’s watercolor and pencil illustrations are as divine as ever.
--Lynn
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