Where We Can Hear the Giants Sing

PreS-Gr 2--Cheong renders a quirky fable about a young girl with black hair and tan skin who finds herself bored with the world that she knows. She wants to explore something deeper: in this case, the ocean, alongside a crew of mermaids. Her mother watches helplessly as she takes a brave, cheerful dive into the waves. The ocean is a magical place, especially with her new friends, but eventually the girl realizes that she belongs "where the sun meets the sea" and in the arms of her mother. The writing is a bit abstract, and this is not a mermaid tale as much as a poignant story of longing and home. The digital illustrations are as painterly as brush applied to canvas. In keeping with its setting, the palette is dark and deep, with splashes of oranges and reds. Mermaids are depicted with a range of skin tones and body types, and the central mermaid is a freckled redhead. The illustrations are lovely and mildly ominous, which feels appropriate for a book about a child exploring the unknown. VERDICT A moody book about adventure and one's place in the world, this isn't essential but will find receptive readers.--Kate Newcombe

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

A visually compelling, though at times cryptic, homage to the lure of adventure and the promise of home. 

As in Where the Wild Things Are, the child’s strong emotions propel this tale of childhood wish fulfillment.