Review: Another by Christian Robinson

ANOTHER

by Christian Robinson 

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Picture Book

56 pages

ages 3 to 7

In his eagerly anticipated debut as author-illustrator, Caldecott and Coretta Scott King honoree Christian Robinson brings young readers on a playful, imaginative journey into another world.

What if you…
encountered another perspective?
Discovered another world?
Met another you?

What might you do?

MY TIDBITS

With whimsical and colorful illustrations, this book leads through a flip-flop of perspective.

The best part of this book is the illustrations, but considering there are no words, that isn't surprising. The artwork is simple yet hits every moment spot on and allows young listeners to dive into the world. The moments and things depicted are ones which most young listeners can easily identify with and connect to. It's fun to get lost in the scenes and try to discover what they mean. The little girl is super cute, and it's hard not to love her cat.

Without reading the blurb or description to this book, it can be confusing and appears to be a strange journey or dream of a young girl. She steps through portals with her cat to find things backwards or flip-flopped or simply other children doing things. And yet, all of this happens at a rather slow and purposefully laid out step-by-step. And this is where it is very important to know what the author wants before reading. Through the portrayal of stepping into another perspective and viewing things at other angles—in this case, often upside down—the listeners are given time to contemplate and recognize what it might mean. But this can't as easily be done without the 'reader' gently leading the listeners into the discovery. Still, it does invite kids to consider and dream and wonder.

This is a lovely book to flip through and get lost in thought. It's not a direct narrative but beautifully done. Young readers will enjoy discovering this journey and each take something different away from it.


And here he is...
Christian Robinson was born in Hollywood, California, in 1986. He grew up in a small one-bedroom apartment with his brother, two cousins, aunt and grandmother. Drawing became a way to make space for himself and to create the kind of world he wanted to see. He studied animation at The California Institute of the Arts and would alter work with the Sesame Street Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios before becoming an illustrator of books for children. His books include Gaston and Antoinette, written by Kelly DiPucchio, and the #1 New York Times bestseller Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Pena, which was awarded the Caldecott Honor, the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, and the Newbery Medal. He presently lives in Northern California with his rescue greyhound Baldwin and several houseplants. He looks forward to one day seeing the Aurora Borealis. Visit him online at TheArtofFuncom