Return (Aaron Becker's Wordless Trilogy #3)

The watercolors remain breathtaking, and there are moments of high invention...It's a must-read for fans.

In a bravura finish to the trio of wordless tales that began with 2013's Journey, Caldecott Honoree Becker brings still more splendor and feeling to his architectural fantasy world. For the first time, readers meet the father of the girl with the red crayon, an artist who has sunk into his own work. Wielding her crayon, the girl escapes into the now-familiar fantasy kingdom to meet her friends, the boy and the king. Her remorseful father follows, arriving just as an enemy warrior wields a crank-operated vacuum box to suck up the kingdom's magic crayons and their creations. Father and daughter escape to a Lascaux-style cavern whose ancient paintings suggest a way to defeat their enemies, and they do just that. Fantastic contraptions, elaborate landscapes, and breathless escapes would each on their own distinguish this installment; together, they dazzle. That the father is redeemed by entering his daughter's kingdom and mastering its rules gives the story a sense of moral justice. Becker's creation is a gift to his readers--one they'll want to save for their own children. Ages 4-8. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. (Aug.)

Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 4—In this satisfying conclusion to the magnificent picture book trilogy, the young heroine once again tries to get her aloof illustrator father's attention and, failing, departs from her mundane sepia-colored world to a fantastical realm via a door she draws with her magic red crayon. This time, her father follows in her footsteps and catches up to her and her friends in the majestic and mysterious city. When crayon-thieving soldiers attack, epic escapades ensue as the duo and their friends flee, then discover a clever solution to defeating their foes that results in father and daughter finally bonding in a touching finale. Like its predecessors, this wordless tale brims with excitement and adventure. Becker's stunning watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations depict a breathtaking world that captivates without a written narrative—and one that readers will want to come back to again and again. VERDICT Though this title relies somewhat on the audience's knowledge of the previous books, it is an absolute must for any collection and will draw new fans just as it will delight those who enjoyed the previous two installments.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Return" offers straight shots of pleasure.
—The New York Times Book Review 

The concluding volume of this wordless trilogy (Journey, BCCB 10/13 and Quest, BCCB 9/14) offers a final look at the fantastical kingdom entered by two kids who wield magic with their colored markers...fans of the first two (and fathers wishing they could join in the adventure) will appreciate the warm conclusion.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

This third, wordless installment (Journey, rev. 9/13; Quest, rev. 9/14) brings the story full circle, beginning and ending in the same city brownstone shown in the first book. While Return can be enjoyed on its own, fans will find rewarding similarities to, and subtle differences from, the other books...Even if her character has grown up, readers can return to this world again and again.
—Horn Book 

From the castle and its surroundings to the cave where a parallel adventure is depicted in petroglyphs, Becker's detailed watercolors invest his tale with visual and narrative richness — and invite readers to return again.
—Washington Post

The dazzling, wordless picture-book trilogy that began with "Journey" (2013) and "Quest" (2014) comes to a rapturous conclusion with "Return" (Candlewick, 40 pages, $15.99), as Aaron Becker brings children ages 4-9 back to the hushed, lantern-hung woods and fantastical turrets and waterways of a marvelous realm. Rich indigos, purples and golds predominate in Mr. Becker's captivating pictures of a child and her surprise companion whose love and ingenuity win the day in a setting of magical beauty.
—The Wall Street Journal