The Way Home in the Night by Akiko Miyakoshi

I mean, I bet you can read this in a sinister voice and end up with eerie story perfect for a scary story time. There’s something Lynchian about the imagery (in fact the rabbits remind me of the strange human-sized bunnies in Lynch’s Inland Empire) with the rather dead-eyed toddler rabbit (being carried by mom at first, and then later a father who joins them on their nocturnal stroll) looking in windows at other animals engaging in mundane activities that somehow seem mysterious and otherworldly in Miyakoshi’s hands. Although I find this cozy and comforting overall, I have to admit I find its surreal dream-like quality a bit creepy on another level. Originally published in Japan in 2015, this moody, beautiful import shows an anthropomorphic rabbit family walking home at night. “A beautiful and unusual tale of family and strength.' It’s the ultimate story of girl power and acceptance, according to the New York Times: “With its bold colors and vivacious lines, Courgeon’s stylish, poster-like art is full of small, exquisite details that reveal poignant aspects of Paulina’s story, creating a deep emotional connection with a heroine who’s a fighter in more than one sense.The Way Home in the Night, illustrated and written by Akiko Miyakoshi, published by Kids Can Press, ISBN: 978-1-77138-663-0, to be released April 4, 2017. “The illustrations shine…with gorgeous, intricate scenes of Paulina’s home life and training, thoughtful portraits of each character and little treats such as boxing gloves arranged in a heart,” Kirkus Reviews says of this best children’s books of 2017 choice. She turns to boxing so she can beat them at arm wrestling and avoid the chores they give her when she loses, such as laundry, cooking and grocery shopping. Turk’s watercolor, ink and collage artwork fills pages, exploding with a neon intensity-the equivalent of a dynamic guitar riff… Read the book, then get kids the music.”Īs the only girl in her family, Paulina is determined to show her father and brothers that she can take charge. “Mahin’s words have a beat all their own, capturing the lows and highs with poetic verve. “The words and pictures here mix exuberance with melancholy,” Booklist says of this best children’s books of 2017 pick. “The soul of the blues sings out through the pages.” Throughout the picture book, the color palette changes as Waters overcomes challenges in his life and career. “Turk’s mixed-media illustrations leap off the page,” the School Library Journal says of this biography of the artist, born McKinley Morganfield in 1913. The life of blues legend Muddy Waters, who overcame a childhood of poverty in the Mississippi Delta to rule the Chicago music scene, comes alive on the page through a blend of collage, newspaper clippings, printer’s ink and paint. Written by Michael Mahin illustrated by Evan Turk

The Way Home in the Night by Akiko Miyakoshi