Join a father and child on a quiet day of wandering, observing, and asking resonant questions.As a father mouse and his child set out to meander through their day, they notice other creatures moving along, too. There’s a bright blue bug scuttling down the path, hornets flying through some daisies, even a stick the child drops from a footbridge, carried along by the flowing river. Are they all going home? Did Dad’s lost scarf go home, too? Does everyone go home sooner or later? With soft, rounded characters evocative of miniature felt figurines and glowing, gently lit colors, Simon Howe offers a tender story of curiosity and parent-child connection—one whose open-ended questions might invite a broader exploration of loss and other universal themes.
Simon Howe is the creator of
Shoosh!, his author-illustrator debut, as well as the illustrator of numerous other books. For the last ten years, he has been working with kids’ folk band Teeny Tiny Stevies, designing, directing, and animating their music videos. Simon Howe lives with his family in Victoria, Australia.
A peaceful meander that’ll please quieter and curious preschoolers.
—Kirkus Reviews
Cozy, delicate, and thoroughly appealing, this is a solid purchase.
—School Library Journal
This beautifully illustrated picture book offers plenty for young children to explore on every page, making it an ideal choice for a calm, cozy bedtime read-aloud.
—Booklist
Occasional wordless panels and spreads such as this give readers space to interpret what might be transpiring between these loving family members. The digital illustrations, primarily in greens and browns appropriate for their walk in nature, have a soft, hazy glow that complements the reflective quality of this quiet story about curiosity and connection.
—The Horn Book
The soft watercolor-and-ink illustrations simultaneously honor the allure of the wild and the warmth of home, to which the young mouse is equally eager to return.
—Foreword Reviews
