(2) K-3 A wee, goggle-eyed alien lands on Earth one night, on a mission to collect soil samples and move on to the next planet. The titular spaceman finds Earth rather ordinary, but then a crow flies off with his spaceship and he must follow the crow "into the unknown." As he journeys, he discovers more and more fascinating plant life, and when the sun comes up, even more flora is revealed, plus strange but adorable animals such as snails and beautiful ones such as butterflies. One butterfly drops the spaceman into a lily pond, where he floats happily until retrieved by a new friend, a small spotted dog (at first deemed a "hideous beast"). Then comes the conundrum: should he recover the spaceship, now seen to be perched on a tree branch, and continue the mission? After wrestling with his conscience, he slyly pushes the spaceship off the branch, and it sinks into the pond, "never to be seen again." The spaceman now must remain on Earth: "In this extraordinary place. Laughing and playing. And enjoying the gentle breeze with my friend." The book's appeal stems from the interplay of the formal narration with the extreme cuteness of the protagonist and the other creatures, including highly expressive faces and body language. The soft palette, in apt greens and blues, reinforces the charm of the bucolic landscape.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(2) PS A child explores the outdoors on a sunny day, observing living things all around: a tall, verdant tree and animals on land, in the air, and underwater. Author Daniel gives voice to each of these living entities: "I'm afraid," says a leaf in the air. The tree from which the leaf fell tells it, however, that it's not alone. A bird nestled in the same tree notes: "I could fall," and the wind replies, as the yellow bird soars through the air: "I will lift you." And so it goes: the stream provides water to a thirsty skunk; a fish provides camaraderie to a lonely crab; the creek cools a hot bear; the grass comforts a worried deer; and more. Daniel stresses the interdependence of living things, stating in a short appended note that "every single living thing depends on another living thing" (such as, for instance, the story's "bored" mushrooms that accept a mouse's invitation to play). The illustrations in thick acrylics are inventive: in one spread, a butterfly's wing, adorned with a pupil-like shape, overlaps with the child's left eye as that eye looks at a snail needing encouragement, and in the final spread, the child sleeps under a full moon while dreaming of creatures. James personifies the animals, many of them with tears and frowns. It's an empathetic primer for the youngest of readers on the interconnectedness of all living things on our planet.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) 4-6 Set on an Indonesian-inspired New Earth, this graphic-novel space fantasy explores themes of love and forgiveness, growth and identity. A young, white-haired, brown-skinned child is found living alone on a moon by hijab-wearing astronaut Dariya Muliadi. Promising loving care and companionship, Dariya encourages the child to join her on the spaceship Eyesun; they do -- despite a foreboding warning from the moon about change and heartbreak. The child, referred to at first with a redacted name and they/them pronouns, eventually confesses to Dariya that they want to change their name: "I don't think I'm...whoever it is everyone thinks I'm supposed to be." That change is a good one, but when Dariya and Indu (the child's chosen name) leave the Eyesun and relocate to New Earth, Indu feels overwhelmed by terrestrial life, a new stepfamily, a new school, and the need to learn a new language. A tutor who is transgender and a special bond with a pen pal who is bisexual and Chinese Indonesian help Indu feel a sense of community and connection. The panel and full-page digital illustrations incorporate nods to past and present Indonesian culture, dress, and architecture. The large cast features Indonesian characters of different ethnicities, skin tones, body sizes, and beliefs. Indonesian language, comprehensible in context, is integrated throughout the text in this heartwarming story whose protagonist finds understanding with friends, family, and a broader community.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) K-3 Nature walks and gardening result in an introspective child thinking small (and big) thoughts about the natural world in this quiet, poetic account, effectively told in the first person. The narrator's sister, experienced and knowledgeable about many things leafy and blossoming, makes grand statements about the plants and flowers they encounter. "Magnolias smell like lemon cake," she announces, causing her sibling self-doubt because "they just smell like flowers to me." Her confident observations about quince trees, dandelions, and maple saplings have the narrator wondering how she knows so much, while our protagonist cannot grasp the complexities of goutweed or even name the big tree outside the window. Wong deftly plays with perspective throughout, often showing the children from overhead as they walk through the woods or pull weeds in the garden. Heavy on greens, his pastel paintings have a serene, hazy feel, evoking the season of spring. One striking sequence shows the child lying in bed at night, looking with curiosity out the window at the sparkling stars in the sky. Wong brings the action to a satisfying close when the child finds a plant that even confounds the older sister. They will look it up in one of her books, after they tend to the garden. This book emerges as both a celebration of nature and of a loving sibling bond.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Olivier Tallec. Three besties--Rabbit, Duck, and Big Bear--are always together, frolicking and having fun in their forest home throughout the seasons. While they are keen to explore, as a group the intrepid trio has never ventured down "the long, winding path." One winter day, however, as Rabbit is learning to ice skate (but not yet how to stop), she finds herself alone and "barreling down the path, not knowing where she is headed." She ends up in front of "the grandest fir tree she has ever seen." Her first thought: "If only my friends were here to see this." Once her worried pals find her, Rabbit excitedly shares her discovery, but it turns out that both Big Bear and Duck know the idyllic spot well. "I come here when I feel like being alone," Big Bear says. Duck likes to visit the tree on still mornings and think. Rabbit is confused and hurt at first ("we do everything together") but comes to understand the need for each of them to feel the tree's restorative magic individually sometimes. Brun-Cosme's spare, straightforward text captures the simple joys of childhood relationships and of growing up. Tallec's pencil and acrylic paintings feature expressive cartoonlike animal characters in lush surroundings. Spot and sequential art add humor and energy to verdant, almost impressionistic landscapes. A smart and subtle glimpse at social-emotional learning and appreciation for the natural world.

Reviewer: Luann Toth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(1) K-3 This lyrical picture book is a paean to the vastness of space and the human drive to explore. The Voyager 2 spacecraft, launched in 1977 and still traveling through the stars, narrates its own journey: "I rise up. I am above the clouds. I cross through the daylight." The book starts on Earth--"Since the dawn of time, we have raised our heads and wondered"--and then focuses on the journey as Voyager 2 passes one planet after another. Most pages contain just a few words or phrases, with the emphasis on Decalf's stunning digital illustrations. Broad expanses of black punctuated by countless stars give a sense of the enormousness of space. Color is used sparingly, with most of the images in shades of black, gray, silver, and white. The final spread asks readers to look into the vast night sky and think of Voyager 2, still "out there." The endnote describes NASA's plans for Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) K-3 Savage presents a fanciful yet plausibly realistic portrayal of an intrepid group of scientists in search of a creature that "everyone talks about but no one has ever seen: the giant Arctic jellyfish." The jellyfish in question is fictional; however, the documentary-style narration and thoughtful attention to visual details make the exploration feel enticingly real. Exploratory equipment and scientific instruments, along with multiple cutaways of the ship's interior, are consistent and believable throughout Savage's playful ink and watercolor illustrations. The members of the large crew, when unbundled from cold-weather gear, are identifiable by their varying skin tones, hairstyles, and uniquely patterned sweaters. The day-to-day monotony of living on a research vessel (countless tasks and long lines for the bathroom) is offset by moments of natural wonder (a vibrant aurora borealis) and harrowing exploration (encountering a polar bear on an iceberg). A steady flow of double-page spreads depicts scene after Arctic scene from both above and below water, providing readers with glimpses of the elusive giant Arctic jellyfish. Savage's strong command of color, light, and atmosphere shines, allowing the creature's semi-translucent body to both mimic and blend with the frigid environment. This is key, since the giant Arctic jellyfish (depicted with two eyes and expressive body language) remains just out of sight until the story's very end, adding a gentle touch of humor and enhancing this imaginative celebration of curiosity.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) 4-6 "Maps show how humans have used borders to divide the land into villages, towns, states, and countries. Much of the story of human history has been about the quest for land and who controls it." In this ambitious and comprehensive account, Thermes (The Indestructible Tom Crean, rev. 1/23) first chronicles European colonization and the aftermath it had--and continues to have--on Indigenous inhabitants of this continent. She goes on to describe successive waves of migration, both forced (the enslavement of Africans; Japanese incarceration during World War II) and voluntary, and mentions ongoing immigration issues. She weaves these narratives into larger political events, especially wars and territorial expansion. The design here is flawless: the illustrations, text, maps, and sidebars work in concert to synthesize and convey not only a large amount of complex information, but information that requires subtlety and nuance in its presentation (and though the art might sometimes be considered cozy, the text does not mince words: "The lie that a person with light skin was superior to one with dark skin tightened its grip"). Moreover, this extended nonfiction picture book has a slightly oversize trim, which, along with the pastel-colored illustrations rendered in watercolor, colored pencil, and ink, recalls the work of the d'Aulaires. This book too has the look and feel of a classic that readers will revisit time and again to fully absorb the details in both text and illustration. A selected bibliography recommends further resources, while an extensive timeline occupies both endpapers.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Binglin Hu. Color design by Ashanti Fortson. Country dwellers Mole and Vole are the stars of this engaging and enjoyable nature-themed graphic novel told in five chapters, or "expeditions." "Expedition #1: Forest Adventure" introduces readers to the creatures' natural environs and their primary character traits (Mole = excitable; Vole = more cautious). "Expedition #2: House Adventure" brings them inside a nearby cabin where they are mistakenly packed into moving boxes. They arrive (unbeknownst to the humans) in a city where the rest of the expeditions take place. With some trepidation, but with appetites for adventure, Mole and Vole set out at various times throughout the day and night. They encounter such familiar city creatures as pigeons, raccoons, and opossums, along with others such as a black-crowned night heron, a DeKay's brown snake, and many more examples of flora and fauna, all identified in clear illustrations with eye-pleasing earth-tone hues and including occasional, informative entries from Mole's sketchbook. Throughout, Vole insists on having seen a lion, a narrative thread that offers in-the-know humor for readers and ties in with a theme of new friendships--for animals and humans alike.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(2) 4-6 Following Newbery honoree A Wish in the Dark (rev. 5/20), this is another middle-grade fantasy from acclaimed author Soontornvat. Sai comes from the humblest of humble beginnings but manages to fake it as assistant to Paiyoon Wongyai, Master Mapmaker of the Kingdom of Mangkon. Her exquisite skills with pen and ink are second only to Paiyoon's, perhaps even surpassing his as he ages. When Paiyoon is commissioned to chart the course of a royal ship en route through dangerous, mythical seas, he takes Sai with him. Deception, treachery, and temptation await her--quite apart from violent storms, sea dragons, and a beleaguered stowaway for whom she feels responsible. Shipwreck and revelation come together, as Sai and the stowaway fend for themselves on the shores of a fabled continent. Class structure, imperial greed, and environmental ravages underpin the narrative arc of this fantastical adventure story, resonating with our own contemporary issues. At the same time, Soontornvat's Thai-inspired culture and geography provide a vivid backdrop. With emphasis on an intricate plot and quick, accessible prose, Soontornvat provides plenty of excitement while bringing questions of expansionism and decolonization to young readers.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022

(2) 4-6 Warga (Other Words for Home, rev. 7/19; The Shape of Thunder, rev. 5/21) imagines a sentient space rover with human emotions who is embarking on a perilous one-way trip to Mars. Resilience (Res for short) narrates much of the book and has profound conversations about life with his companion drone and a nearby satellite. Interspersed throughout are letters written to Res by Sophie, the daughter of Rania, one of Res's programmers. Res sets off on an exploration that will thrill fans of both adventure and robot stories and also provide intellectual sustenance for the deep thinkers, with the novel asking existential questions such as: where do memories and experiences go when we die? Looking at the remains of a broken-down rover, Res wonders, "Are we all going to end up just like this?" Through the character of a robot who has feelings and self-awareness, Warga probes issues of identity, attachment, and the purpose of life, offering readers an unusual but heartfelt example of the importance of staying true to yourself, quirks and all.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Doug Keith. Approaching Giant Island in Grandpa's motorboat, Ava and Mason wonder why the small island has such a name. Grandpa says it's always been called that: "That's what my grandpa told me." The children explore the island while Grandpa goes fishing and discover a cave "dripping with mystery." Next, they jump into the water, noting that there "seemed to be magic everywhere" (the illustration shows the two floating in giant bubbles beneath the water's surface). From a rocky ledge they can see the entire island: "Mason, look! The whole island is a giant!" By wielding perspective and scale in playful ways, Keith provides visual clues along the way: a stone that serves as the giant's eye, moss that looks like its hair, and rocks under the water that form a giant's affable face. The rocky ledge is the giant's extended arm. Yolen fills the text with the children's excited dialogue, which gives the book a lively tone; when Grandpa whispers as they leave at sunset, "Always good to see you, old friend," readers know his intention was to give his grandchildren the same thrilling adventures he had as a child. The contrasts in the opening and closing endpapers celebrate the power of imagination to make magic.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(2) PS Translated by Johanna McCalmont. Illustrated by Florian Pigé. A girl in a treehouse regularly explores the woods through her binoculars: "I know the forest inside out." Suddenly, she spots something new--the antlers of a deer reaching into the sky. She runs to the deer and secures permission to climb his antlers. "You can tell me what you see," says the deer. As she climbs, she passes a birthday party of woodland creatures; a mouse reading a newspaper; a garden, complete with a Venus flytrap; and a huge sleeping snake. From the top of the antlers, she takes in a brilliant sunset. "I didn't know I could climb so high," she tells the deer when she's back on solid ground. The enchanting scenes of the creatures settled into the twisting, curving antlers will thrill young ­viewers--expect to linger on these spreads to engage with the details in Pigé's velvety and textured earth-toned illustrations. Both author and illustrator give the wide-eyed protagonist an abundant curiosity that propels page-turns. Best of all, the inquisitive girl takes it all in as the habitual nature-watcher she is. Though she knows nature is wondrous (mice drying off with towels don't surprise her), she's still awed by seeing a glorious sunset from an all-new height.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Graham Carter. For fourteen-and-a-half years, the Mars rover Opportunity, nicknamed Oppy, traveled over the surface of the red planet sending information back to scientists on Earth. Perhaps "her" most famous discovery was evidence of the one-time existence of groundwater on Mars. This cheerful picture book features an anthropomorphized Oppy, eyes wide open, magnifying glass in hand, doing scientific research until a dust storm ends her successful run. Digital cartoon-style illustrations use shades of red, pink, and magenta. McGowan's account of Oppy's work is accompanied by solid, accessible information about the NASA project. Back matter includes photographs, an author's note, and a list of sources.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(2) 4-6 In this vivid graphic novel, adventurous thirteen-year-old Iris believes that she has explored every last corner of her small hometown with her best friend, the trepidatious Sam. She acutely feels Bugden's limitations and how they hinder her boundless ambitions. After a fight with her mom, Iris camps out at the river, her place of solace and possibility. Sam finds her in the morning, peering down at the strangely dried-up riverbed. Iris ropes Sam into exploring the riverbed, which soon leads them to the dripping remnants of a once-submerged town. The more Iris investigates, the more she realizes how cautious (and complacent) Sam has become, and this frustration culminates in an outburst that separates the two friends just as the first traces of true danger appear. A skilled animation artist, Pamment balances his plentiful and cinematic sequential storytelling with bright, personality-building dialogue to create a cohesive and immersive narrative in both art and text. Detailed visual motifs and many potent sound effects handily extend the narrative beyond the page and activate readers' senses. Hand this mesmerizing tale about hidden histories and friendship growth spurts to cautious and intrepid young explorers alike.

Reviewer: Niki Marion | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(2) PS Inside Cat wanders its labyrinthine, multi-floor home, filled with windows of varying shapes and sizes. In this eclectic dwelling, the feline "finds a view wherever it goes." Only the cat, what it sees through the windows, and some brick walls are depicted in color, while everything else indoors is sketchily drawn in a monochromatic charcoal-blue hue. This emphasizes the colorful sights and sounds seen through the windows--squirrels (which the cat thinks are "fluffy rats"), a helicopter ("roaring flies"), construction workers, children playing, a parade with giant floats ("WILD BEASTS!"), and more. As the animal walks through every inch of the home, exploring the views it affords, Wenzel (They All Saw a Cat, rev. 11/16; A Stone Sat Still, rev. 9/19) manages to keep the compositions interesting--an impressive feat, given the parameters of the setting. The rhyming verse is immensely satisfying and, much like the cat, strides forward rhythmically, always with the refrain: "Inside Cat knows many windows / finds a view wherever it goes." Just when viewers are reminded that the cat's seen it all, "every view and every floor," it steps out the front door for the first time: "Oh." A busy, bustling world awaits. Viewers see the house itself is shaped like a cat, hinted at on the opening endpapers--and the closing endpapers delight with another feline surprise. Just ask Inside Cat: discoveries are always around the bend for those curious enough to expand their horizons.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi. Kondo, a large yellow creature, and Kezumi, a small orange creature, live on an island full of "berry bushes and flitter-birds and fluffle-bunnies." One day "something new" appears: a message in a bottle that reads "We are not alone." The anonymous message includes a map, and after overcoming fears, Kondo and Kezumi set off in a bathtub boat--with the map!--to explore the islands around them, taking notes as they sail along. At their first stop, the Dairy Isle (get it?), the pair eats their fill of cheddar logs and Gorgonzola gourds. The next leg of their trip brings them dangerously close to the jagged, flaming Fireskull Island. They make their way to Giant Island, where they meet a new friend--who would rather they didn't leave. The vibrant digital illustrations immerse readers in the various island ecosystems--each rife with otherworldly (or simply cheesy) vegetation and populated by whimsical creatures--and all the rough and windy waterways between them. Voyagers Kezumi and Kondo tackle fears, frustrations, and homesickness humorously and realistically, reflecting the many issues that can test a friendship during travel. Their frank discussion of emotions ("That was scary") and their apologies can be seen as models for young readers' own developing friendships. Kondo and Kezumi remind us that we are not alone, indeed.

Reviewer: Grace McKinney | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by William Goldsmith. This creatively rendered biography-in-comics, with Muir's imagined voice as narrator, is filled with the naturalist's adventures, from his childhood in Scotland to his pioneering conservation work and formation of America's National Parks. Illustrator Goldsmith's Muir is a feisty character, portrayed in loose pencil sketches with one or two accent colors. Vibrant spreads in the chapter transitions and interludes capture the stunning landscapes in which Muir found his purpose. Timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(2) PS Biggs (the Everything Goes books; the Tiny Town series) brings his bright, cheerful illustration style and offbeat humor into outer space. Readers meet astronaut Randolph Witherspoon floating in a cramped space capsule. "'I'm bored and I want to take a walk,' Randolph complained...'Requesting permission to go outside.'" Ground Control's authoritative response, like that of many a parent, is to first list some chores: "Eat some lunch, get some exercise, and clean the place up a bit." With each task accomplished (in a series of entertaining illustrations), Randolph is now free to go. He follows Ground Control's advice to dress warmly and bring his camera--but is already out the door before the familiar reminder (presented in bold face): "Don't talk to strangers!" In space, a new buddy awaits--and none stranger--in the form of an alien who similarly loves selfies. They have a blast playing together until it's time to go back in. "You're late," admonishes Ground Control, but that doesn't kill Randolph's buzz as he types up his nightly report, eats dinner, and gets ready for bed, all with a huge grin on his face. "And he couldn't wait for tomorrow." Readers will relate, as Biggs's digital illustrations (cheekily described in the art note on the copyright page) picture space as a vibrantly colorful wonderland where new friends await and boredom is busted by simply exploring the outdoors.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jennifer Thermes. A very proper lady penguin and a bad-mannered mouse stow away on a hot air balloon in this exciting animal adventure. When the balloon is forced to land in the Arctic, the two strangers must learn to get along in order to survive. Themes of overcoming hardship, death, and grief add gravity to this otherwise whimsical tale featuring Thermes's delicate and vibrant pencil illustrations.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello