2024 New England Book Award Finalist!
Reviews for Night Song
"Using a mix of watercolor, colored pencil, and ink, Yum illustrates Despres’ lilting, sonorous text with idyllic scenes of songbirds and waterfowl, butterflies and dragonflies, amid verdant tufts of greenery and sprays of flowers. Poetic and peaceful: a natural for bedtime reading." —Kirkus
"In this lyrically told be-yourself story, a frog named Bernardo longs to join the birds whose dawn song inspires the sun... Assured lines by debut creator Smith Despres convey the wonder of change brought by the day’s rhythms, while limpid colored pencil, watercolor, and ink spreads by Yum deliver giggles and render subtly changing light and color in this hymn to contemplating one’s place in the world." —Publishers Weekly
Reviews for There’s That Sun Again
“The story lends itself to interpretation and meaningful conversation about the cyclical nature of life and the realization that with support and resilience, we can meet almost any obstacle. Imaginative musings on the world, ideal for young wonderers.” —Kirkus
FIRST FRIENDS: NUMBERS &
FIRST FRIENDS: SHAPES
illustrated by Aya Watanabe
coming November 5, 2024
Barefoot Books
Reviews for First Friends
“Dive into a world of shapes with this engaging seek-and-find board book. Rhyming pages tell the story of a daycare class as they play throughout the day, introducing shapes through child-friendly, bright images. VERDICT: This is a great addition to the concept shelves.” —School Library Journal
“Bright illustrations and simple text make this board book perfect for readers-in-progress.” —Foreword Reviews
“Despres’ bouncy text keeps the audience engaged, while Watanabe’s lively illustrations, composed of bright colors and patterns, expertly showcase the many uses shapes have in our everyday lives, especially for kids playing together at daycare. Both educational and entertaining, this offers a lesson on shapes we see every day with a focus on joy and play.” —Booklist
Stay tuned for more books coming in 2025 and 2026!