This is a cute book about feeling invisible and how we aren't invisible to everyone. Sometimes it just takes one friend and a familiar place to make you feel like you belong and matter to someone. The illustrations in this book are very vibrant and detailed.

I am <em>so</em> torn. I want to say I <em>loved</em> this book, this story. But something about reading a book to a young child that features another young child running off into the woods by herself to reach her favorite place, ultimately ending up <em>alone</em> in the dark wood <em>at night</em> seriously bothers me. This is a great story with a great message and <em>beautiful</em> artwork, but it is not one I would read to a child. Honestly, <em>Meet Me By The Sea</em> by Taltal Levi is more fit for adults.

<b>Running Away</b>

The main character in this book begins her story by feeling ignored, sad, and frustrated. Instead of talking out those feelings with her parents (which is reasonable for a child), she decides to take a trip to her favorite place: the sea. So, she bundles herself up, packs her bag, and sets out into the day. Her journey takes her all the way into nighttime where she bundles up in a sleeping bag in the middle of the woods.

Come morning, she wakes up to a visitor.

Now, it's fairly obvious that this is meant to be a happy story with a lesson learned. The ending is easy to guess. And some reviews have already mentioned such. But, I have to ask, is it really good to be reading a book to children that suggests nothing bad will come of running off if you feel like you're being ignored?

I had an incredibly difficult time wrapping my head around that message. And it's not that I wanted anything bad to happen to the main character. Rather, I find myself feeling anxious for any kid who does take that unintentional message to heart.

<b>Foxwork</b>

It should come as no surprise, really, that I requested this book solely because I noticed the fox on its cover. And I love him <em>so dearly</em>. The artwork in this book is pretty fantastic, but the fox is the one who stole my breath away. There was a particular illustration that just pulled at my heart, the wide eyed curious gaze of the fox so emotionally gripping. I <em>loved</em> the way he was introduced, included throughout the child's journey. It was perfect and adorable.

Of course, the characters and settings were lovely as well. As far as I'm concerned, though, the fox is the one who stole the show.

<b>Who is this book for?</b>

I honestly found myself asking this question numerous times while reading it. Who, truly, is the intended audience? I don't think this book teaches young children anything valuable. In fact, I think it does exactly the opposite. It has bright colors and gorgeous illustrations that, sure, kids will like. But, ultimately, I can't figure out <em>why</em> this would be a good book for a young audience.

At the end of the day, I genuinely just feel like it isn't. The intended message isn't one that is meant to reach the understanding of a child. The message is for the parents, the adults who are so busy with their lives that they forget to spend time with their children. The story isn't trying to teach a kid something, but rather trying to teach the parents. We follow the journey through the eyes of a young girl, but she is not representative of who the author is speaking to.

In the end, I did really enjoy reading this book. I loved the story and I loved the art. I loved the message. And I <em>loved</em> the fox.

But I don't think this is a book for kids. And I would not read it to them.

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>

This review will be live on the Reader Fox blog on September 3, 2020.

Pretty pastel pictures and a sweet, quiet story. A pleasant read but ultimately nothing that special and not something I would actively seek out.

This is why adults should look at young reader children's books. Our heroine finds her parents too plugged-in and logged-on to care for her, so she naffs off, sleeping bag and rolled-up ground mat and all. She spends a night on her own, before they can respond – but it's the daytime that she doesn't spend alone that is the wonder of her life. This simple little story is just wonderfully presented. The artworks are full-page images (bar the single-line sentences of the story at the foot of the page), and manage to combine a watercolour aesthetic with a lined, pencilled, textured approach. And the more you look at this, the more everything seems right – the girl is universally acceptable, a bit round, a bit nondescript perhaps yet thoroughly identifiable; her destination and company are foreshadowed in the house she leaves. The quality I will remember this most for, however, is its quietness – the whole story has the bearing of a meek, quiet girl, and it only made me realise how many books for this age range tend towards shouting. A subdued, measured, visually appealing piece then – the creator's debut was a wonderful work too, with a clear moral and trick. This, with its lack of obvious raison d'etre, is a subtle masterpiece. And I bet I can count the uses of that word in my 15-year reviewing career on the fingers of one hand.

Sparce in words, but not in feeling, this delightful and gorgeous book celebrates treasuring oneself and one's family.

Meet Me by the Sea by Taltal Levi is the beautifully illustrated story of a young girl who feels invisible to her family, so sets off to her happy place to find her own adventure. While the pastel illustrations are gorgeous, I felt that the story itself was somewhat lacking, and would have benefited from a little more information about what leads the young girl to her decision to set off on her quest. When her parents ultimately find the girl in her favourite place, it seems that they are indeed more attuned to their daughter than previously assumed. The concept here is lovely, but I would have loved to have seen it a little more fleshed out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and North South Books Inc. for the opportunity to read this ARC.

**I received an e-ARC from NetGalley for an honest review**

Nice story, and I liked the surprise visitor.
Beautifully done illustrations, ones I could easily see framed and put on the wall.
I think I would have liked maybe a page or two more at the beginning, as it felt like an abrupt start.

This is a beautifully illustrated children's book that follows a girl who takes matters into her own hands after finding her parents are too busy to spend time with her.

The writing in this book is spare and it makes for a very quick read. It would be suitable to read to an infant all the way up to a young school-aged child. The illustrations are beautifully done and worth taking time to digest.

I found this book to be particularly interesting on a few points--first, that the girl is brave enough to spend the night by herself in the woods, and secondly, that her parents find her at her favorite place in the end. This book feels instructive to both children and parents alike. It highlights courage and initiative in children to find their own constructive entertainment. The book seems to caution parents to give proper time and attention to their children or else they may turn to other sources for comfort and entertainment. The final emotion this book evokes is one of relief and joy at finding that the girl's parents have met her at the sea--that they do, in fact, have time for her. Perhaps the girl's interpretation of her parents actions was incorrect? Perhaps her parents recognized their mistake? Either way, the end is a happy, satisfying one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.

This was a really simple story about a little girl who feels invisible in her family. She leaves to go off on her own to her happy place. The illustrations are very well done. I wish there was more to the story; it seemed to be suited to a board book rather than a picture book.