Children’s Picture Book Review:
Another by Caldecott Honoree Christian Robinson
When we received a review copy of Another, a new picture book by Christian Robinson in the mail from Simon and Schuster, my fifteen-year-old daughter Emma with me, we were instantly struck by the unique and colorful cover. We couldn’t wait to show my eleven-year-old daughter too! I understand that the ages of my children probably aren’t in the normal target range, but I’ve been a children’s book lover all my own adult life since I was little and have passed this love onto my own children. Not only are we collectors, but we like to recommend to elementary schools, libraries, and others buying for young children leaning on our life long experiences. Also, Emma loves art and illustration, so she loves looking at it from that perspective with me.
The next thing we noticed was that it’s a picture book with no words! The art was so pleasantly creative and inspiring that no words were needed, however. Emma and I both found that we could talk about the story’s progression on each page and give our own thoughts and comments to each other. This makes it a great read along book perfect for looking at with young children and asking thought-provoking or critical thinking questions to spur the imagination. I’ve always believed this to be important in the growth of young brains. Their own ability to form opinions and thoughts at a young age help them with life-long decision-making skills.
The story flowed so well, because Robinson draws with motion and fluidity in mind. It’s a full-size picture book but if it was in small form, it could almost be like one of those flip books in which the movement makes it animated. You can certainly tell his animator experience shining though. I believe this also helps keep the book moving even though there are no words. We can see the story popping off the page in front of you without need of script. The personalities of the young girl and the cat jumps clearly out to us. Energy, excitement, and exploration ooze off the page to readers. We found ourselves smiling at each page.
This will appeal to children who love adventure or children whose home lives dictate imagination be their way to survival. This endeared me greatly to the book. The themes within this book of your life having a parallel one – a new world in which you can see your life or yourself differently and a new place where you can see all new things and new people. I really liked how in the pages showcasing the meeting of others, he took the care to draw those of other religions or with disabilities because you’ll meet them everywhere. A perfect parallel world where people are happy still contains all sort of people living their lives.
I am a person who really loves bright colors and I thoroughly enjoyed the colors he utilized and his style and use of colorful dots, from in the girl’s hair to the other uses scattered throughout. It really made the book feel fun. I also love his cat! I have my own black and white cat, and so it reminded my daughter and I of our very own curious and mischievous cat. The best way my daughter described his style, was “cute.” And I agree. The book/art reminded me a lot of my own childhood growing up watching Sesame Street or Reading Rainbow and then passing on those traditions to my own children.
Overall, my daughter and I loved looking and talking about this book together. I think it will be a favorite on our shelves. As a former librarian, bookseller of children’s books, and mother of three, I have no hesitation to suggest this for use in reading with children in an environment that will help them learn and grow through the use of their own words. We even loved the end inside cover interior art (and the back cover photo) of the solar system/stars and the girl in the story (and cat) looking through the telescope. I can only hope that possibly he creates a second book in which she looking into, and instead of crawling through the dream hole as in this book, takes off for outer space.
Thank you to Christian Robinson for not only creating this wonderful book but for the half an hour precious moment he gave me with my teenage daughter that made us both feel like she was young again (and that I was too). It’s obviously created for a younger target market in mind, and will work well presented to them with discussion, but it can make all ages happy. His art and story is inspiring and Another will be a timeless classic. I look forward to seeing what Robison does in the future!
ANOTHER by Christian Robinson, an eagerly anticipated debut as an author-illustrator from a Caldecott and Coretta Scott King honoree. Allow Christian Robinson to bring you on a playful, imaginative journey into another world.
What if you…
Encountered another perspective?
Discovered another world?
Met another you?
What might you do?
Recipient of four starred reviews, School Library Journal calls it “both beautiful and fanciful… a work of art and celebration of childhood.”
★ “A work of art and celebration of childhood for all libraries.”
— School Library Journal, starred review
★ “Robinson’s work comes alive in this expanse of wordless narrative.”
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “An adventure that will both puzzle and amuse.”
— Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “smart, sly, and imaginative”
— Horn Book, starred review
Purchase Links –
Christian Robinson, Biography –
Christian Robinson was born in Hollywood, California, in 1986. He grew up in a small one-bedroom apartment with his brother, two cousins, aunt, and grandmother. Drawing became a way to make space for himself and to create the kind of world he wanted to see.
He studied animation at The California Institute of the Arts and would later work with the Sesame Street Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios before becoming an illustrator of books for children.
His books include Gaston and Antoinette, written by Kelly DiPucchio, and the #1 New York Times bestseller Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Peña, which was awarded the Caldecott Honor, the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, and the Newbery Medal.
He presently lives in Northern California with his rescue greyhound Baldwin and several houseplants. He looks forward to one day seeing the Aurora Borealis. Visit him online at TheArtofFun.com, Twitter, or on Instagram.
Oh, for the HOOK of a BOOK! 