Finding Things

"If you found a little ball on the grass," begins this second-person work from married collaborators Henkes and Dronzek (Little Houses), "and it was there for days, you could take it home." The red ball sits amid green grass thickly stroked with the illustrator's characteristic visual simplicity. Other overlooked, low-to-the ground objects soon appear, free for the taking: a flower growing from a sidewalk crack, a box on garbage day. A peaceful still life features the new acquisitions; the family dog sleeps contentedly with the red ball, the flower springs from a glass on the table, the box sits saved "for something good." Suddenly, another abandoned entity is encountered. Lost in green leaves, a white kitten opens its pink mouth. "If you found a kitten in the bushes and it was crying and crying and it didn't belong to anyone... and you got permission... you could take it inside to keep." Obstacles overcome, the kitten appears cradled on the shoulder of a pale-skinned child, in whose home everything fits together--the kitten has a box to sleep in, a ball to play with, and a flower to look at. Serendipitously encountered objects present themselves as truly valuable in this compact, thoughtful story about paradise found. Ages 4-8. (May)

PreS-Gr 2--In a carefully worded script that reads like a sunny morning on slow, Henkes tells what happens when you come across a ball, a flower in the sidewalk, a discarded box, and a kitten. The second-person narration tells you, readers, how to ensure that these objects, having been lost or put aside, can be yours; for example, if you leave the ball where it is for a few days or you ask for a lot of different sorts of permission before taking home the kitten, you may be in the clear. Random choices, these? No, this is a story of simplicity, and what has been found is actually a kitten with a box to sleep in, a ball for it to play with, a flower for it to look at, and a child's arms to hold it. Dronzek's deeply hued, pastel-like illustrations, each a tiny painting that seems to hold its breath in anticipation, culminate steadily till readers find themselves at home with the kitten, perhaps as they always knew they'd be. When a seemingly throwaway piece of text, like an object that is lost, sticks around long enough to turn into a story, that's a picture book. When the illustrations elevate the words the way these do, that's a masterpiece. VERDICT A manual for constructing a contented life, this book makes children look deeper and behave with deliberation. And when they do, Henkes says, they are lucky.--Kimberly Olson Fakih

In a straightforward narrative that speaks directly to children, Henkes reflects on the treasures that are hidden in plain sight, just waiting for someone to see their potential. . . . The text is utterly true to a kid's world in acknowledging limits. . . . This well-crafted picture book is simple, intriguing, and well attuned to its audience. — Booklist (starred review)

An ode to noticing the little things. . . . Using no more words than you might find in a beginning reader, Henkes once again demonstrates his mastery for boiling a story down to its most essential parts. . . all painted with bright acrylic colors that pop off the page. Each element is as accessible as it is ripe for speculation. Found objects sometimes yield the simplest pleasures. Consider this book one such example. — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The story taps into the inherent caretaking tendencies of many young children. . . . Perfect for emerging readers. . . . Tableaux, dominated by simple square shapes, are reduced to their essentials: ball, flower, box, kitten—all "happy" in a warm home because the child took the time to notice them. — Horn Book Magazine