Teacup

Ottley's (Parachute) ravishing paintings of ocean and sky distinguish this story, Australian writer Young's first for the U.S. market. Young opens with a jolt--"Once there was a boy who had to leave his home... and find another--but Ottley's first spread softens the blow. The boy stands on a wave-washed beach beside a wooden boat, apprehensive, yet ready for adventure. His few possessions include a teacup, which holds "some earth from where he used to play," and his journey alternates between terror and serenity. One spread shows his boat riding up the face of a massive wave ("the boy held tightly to his teacup"), while in another, three dolphins cavort around the boat in tranquil seas. As the boy grows lonelier ("The way the whales called out to one another reminded him of how his mother used to call him in for tea"), a seed hidden in the soil in his teacup begins to grow, ready to bear fruit when he finally makes landfall; a companion appears not long after. Ottley's paintings offer readers a thrilling share in the boy's adventure. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 3--In this moving, allegorical tale, a young boy searches for a new homeland, taking with him only a book, bottle, blanket, and teacup full of earth from where he used to play. His solo sea journey is fraught with danger, and loneliness plagues him in the dark. The child finds comfort in the way the whales sing to one another, stirring memories of how his mother used to call him in for tea. In time, a sturdy apple tree grows in his teacup and provides shelter, shade, and food. After the boy puts down roots in a new land, hope and friendship appear on the horizon when a girl with a broken eggcup arrives. Ottley's exquisite, expansive oil paintings of the small boy in his boat, bravely rowing against roiling waves, capture a vulnerable aloneness. The language is spare and poetic, and many words and images will linger with readers, inspiring reflection and empathy: "The way the clouds slowly swam into view/reminded him of how things/can change/with a whisper." VERDICT A beautifully crafted story that's perfect for sharing aloud and discussing with a small group.--Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ont., Canada

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

* Enchanting, beautiful, and full of hope.—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* While the journey and its inherent uncertainty is naturally a fitting metaphor for growing up, connections to actual sea travel and subtle hints about turmoil in the boy's homeland suggest connections to immigration stories as well...This pleasantly minimalist and contemplative story is quietly thought-provoking and arrestingly beautiful.—Booklist, starred review

* A beautifully crafted story that's perfect for sharing aloud and discussing with a small group.—School Library Journal, starred review

Ottley's ravishing paintings of ocean and sky distinguish this story.—Publishers Weekly