Small in design and wordless in execution, this story of a young Asian girl, unhappy with her dinner, will strike a chord with many children. Impressively combining her painting and printmaking skills, Yum first offers an image of the girl obviously miserable about what’s on her plate. Mother’s angry shadow is enough to make readers understand why the girl must go to her room, where a stuffed bear offers comfort. But as the girl sleeps, something magical happens: the bear becomes real and offers his paw for a journey into the night. A mysterious and intriguing two-page spread shows the girl’s house, ordinary and everyday, sitting next to a deep forest in blues and blacks lit by a golden moon. The compact book becomes momentarily vertical as the animals of the woods are introduced and playtime ensues, but those looking very, very carefully will see the girl subtly change mood. Perhaps being in a forest with boisterous foxes and lions is not so much fun after all, and when the bear falls asleep, the girl stares pensively at the ground. Then it is morning, and the bear is once again inanimate—and Mother welcomes the girl home. With so much depth and emotion, the art makes words superfluous. Their absence gives kids room to think. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper
Review
“This wordless story is a very clever re-visitation of the landscape of Where the Wild Things Are.” —The Chicago Tribune
“Yum has made this book distinct with her art, which manages to be charming and eerie at the same time.” —The Oklahoman
“With so much depth and emotion, the art makes words superfluous. Their absence gives kids room to think.”—Starred, Booklist
“This is a great book for children not quite able to read, but eager to pick up a book.” —Sacramento Book Review
“In stunning linoleum block prints, debut artist Yum imagines a little girl who dreams of a night in the forest with her teddy bear . . . Some picture books are written for children; this one gives a sense of what it’s like to be one.” —Starred, Publishers Weekly
“Many adults will view this book as a useful tool to encourage children to explore and cope effectively with feelings of anger as they compose their own explanations for the series of events so vividly represented in this eloquent book.” —School Library Journal
“Linocut illustrations, done in a muted palette and printed with a grainy texture, have a raw quality; each image captures a narrative beat.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The technique used, employing several blocks of different color combinations for each illustration, requires much planning and time-consuming execution, yet the result looks spontaneous and intimate.” —The Horn Book
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