Nimesh the Adventurer (Lantana Global Picture Books)

Nimesh is a young boy with a huge imagination. He takes readers through what appears to be a normal day: going to school, walking home, and gazing into the shop windows. But Nimesh's day is anything but normal. His walk down the hall at school turns into an underwater adventure swimming with sharks. His classroom teacher is a snoozing dragon wearing great little red Mary Jane shoes. Nimesh continues his stroll through his day; at every turn, readers experience a world of color, vivid images, and fun. Amini's mixed-media illustrations are wonderful works of art that make Nimesh's imaginary visions come to life with great attention to detail. VERDICT Readers will love the brilliant visuals that accompany Nimesh on his imaginary trek. A fun choice for one-on-one and small group read-alouds.—Erin Olsen, The Brearley School, NY

Richly textured, vividly hued digital collages illustrate this playful depiction of a boy's imagination through a seemingly ordinary day. "Hello Nimesh, is school over?" an unseen narrator asks a boy surrounded by classmates. "This is not a school," answers the boy cheerfully. "It's an ancient cave, and shhhh! Or you'll wake... the dragon!" The following image reveals Nimesh's imagined scenario: an endearing dragon in party shoes snoozes peacefully at a desk. On subsequent spreads, the question-and-answer format alternates everyday scenes with his wild, creative adventures: a school hallway becomes a shark-infested sea; an elderly neighbor on a park bench is actually a princess in a garden. In a final reversal, Nimesh responds with a happy dose of reality: this door doesn't lead to a cave full of gold; it leads to home, where he's greeted by his mother, dressed in a sari, and his father, in kurta pajamas. Featuring diverse characters, this debut offering from Singh and award-winning illustrator Amini (Yo Soy Muslim: A Father's Letter to His Daughter) is a vibrant invitation to creative play. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)

"The perfect picture book example of how to celebrate inclusion"—The Independent

 "An inclusive, funny, joyous book for all"—Playing by the Book