Little Wonder

PreS-Gr 1–Through sleepy stretches and bubbly yawns, a dark-skinned boy, Little Wonder, awakens to the tender morning greetings of his mother, who shares his skin color and black hair, and who narrates her son’s day in their dreamlike, underwater world. Inspiration strikes Little Wonder to explore the vast ocean beyond the sights of his mother, and the lasting message following him on his journey is one of confidence: “I may be far away, but I’m always with you. The night may be dark, but your courage is bright.” She explains that along the journey of life, Little Wonder will at times encounter darkness and fear, but his courage will shine bright and guide him ahead towards treasures and unexpected friends, represented by ocean creatures both mythical and real. Keane’s whimsical pastel-inspired digital illustrations blend vibrant warm and cool colors, paired with curved fluid line work mirroring the watery movement of bubbles, seaweed, and fish drifting through Little Wonder’s imagination. It conjures memories of Keane’s work for Not Yeti, and blends beautifully with encouraging messages similar to those in Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go!