The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

De Kinder, Jan

Red

32 pp. | Eerdmans | March, 2015 | Trade ISBN 978-0-8028-5446-9 $16.00

(2) K-3 Translated by Laura Watkinson. In this thoughtful Belgian import, the narrator innocuously points out her classmate's blushing cheeks, but the ensuing wordless spread captures Tommy's humiliation at being singled out. The situation snowballs with a tormenter and his giggling sycophants; eventually our protagonist finds the courage to speak up. The mixed-media illustrations' varying shades of red are used to great emotional effect, paired with child-friendly comparisons.

Reviewer: Sam Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2015