Somewhere

PreS-Gr 2--A seemingly ordinary father-daughter outing is transformed into a brand new adventure in this engaging story. The opening spread reveals that the unnamed girl is ready to independently go "somewhere" that is new and different. She waves goodbye to her father, who has her brown skin and dark hair, and begins a journey through the forest of discovery and curiosity. During her outing, she collects treasures such as a shiny peso, a large leaf, flowers, and feathers. It is around this time that she realizes how much her father would love to be "somewhere" with her--before using her self-reliance to return to him and share her experiences. Mariño's stunning watercolor and ink illustrations invite readers to join the young protagonist on her new adventure, an excellent complement to Harris's lyrical text. Pair with My Forest is Green by Darren LeBeuf, A Walk in the Forest by Maria Dek, and The Secret Fawn by Kallie George for stimulating discussions of nature, adventure, and self-sufficiency. VERDICT Brimming with respect for curiosity and independence, this is a welcome addition to most collections.--Olivia Gorecke, Cape May Cty. Lib., Ocean View, NJ

A tropical landscape alive with colorful birds, butterflies, and flowers makes an ideal place for a brown-skinned child wearing a dress and a baseball cap to explore alone, without their father. In a tropical city that could be Havana, with classic building facades painted in many colors, the two enter a park together. Wanting to go "Somewhere new./ Somewhere/ I had never, ever been before," the child sets off, "step-by-step, / making footprints/ in the mud," the father visible nearby behind some greenery. In watercolor and ink illustrations with dappled textures, debut illustrator Mariño paints the child as they find treasures along the way ("a shiny peso!/ And a big green leaf!") and arrive at last in a place that feels initially "somewhere new./ Somewhere so nice./ Somewhere so quiet," and soon enough, uncomfortably remote. Sure their father is "lonely without me," the figure takes a moment to retrace their steps until good thinking and confident self-talk offer the way. Daddy's affectionate gestures are welcoming as the child puts the found flower into his hair. Harris (It's Not the Stork!) writes a familiar story about experimenting with independence, and Mariño's paintings give it visual richness. Ages 4-6. (Feb.)