Caspian Finds a Friend

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.