Caspian Finds a Friend

October 11, 2019

PreS-Gr 1- A quote by Rumi ("What you seek is seeking you") sets the stage for this gentle story about friendship and longing. A lonely child living in a lighthouse surrounded by ocean sends a message in a bottle across the sea, writing "Will you be my friend?" When he receives a one-word message back, he sets off on a journey to find the note's author. Will he succeed? And what was the answer? Debut illustrator Brown is a talent to watch. Digital illustrations in a fresh color palette combine oil paint, relief print, and charcoal to create a striking world. The artist does an excellent job of utilizing spreads to change the perspective of the story, zooming in and out throughout, giving the narrative immediacy and movement. The book's layout integrates text into the illustrations without clashing with the action happening in the art, and creates a lovely visual treat. VERDICT Beautiful illustrations and a sweet story warrant purchase of this dream-like adventure, perfect for bedtime and small group sharing.-Jennifer Knight, North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles, WA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 15, 2019
How will a lonely boy in a lighthouse find a friend? Caspian is a self-sufficient young boy who probably ages from 6 to 7 during the story. The opening double-page spread immediately draws readers into Caspian's world of both natural beauty and isolation. Against a stark white background, a lighthouse sits above a sheer cliff of sand and rock. Far below and to the right, the tiny figure of Caspian is visible on a small sliver of land, gazing toward the sea. The opening words inform readers that Caspian lives in the lighthouse. Poetic lines about Caspian's life follow: "Every day, he watches the waves, / wondering, waiting, wishing for a friend." When he gets no results from beaming his lighthouse light, a delightful double-page sequence shows Caspian printing a message on a paper, emptying a translucent green jug of its flowers, and carefully pushing his rolled-up message into it. More lyrical text and dreamlike art follow, as Caspian sends his message out to sea, waits for months, and eventually gets a one-word response. He rows his little boat out under the night sky's constellations, and eventually he meets up with the friend who will bear him back home. The striking, stylized art and text work perfectly together to create a whimsical, nonthreatening story that still has plenty of action and adventure--with the bonus of not one interfering grown-up. Caspian is depicted with pale skin, straight, dark hair, and dark eyes. Bedtime or naptime perfection. (Picture book. 3-6)

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