Love the colour palette chosen as it reflects the importance of light and dark. The fun opening with seeing far away and close will bring laughter to the classroom. The discussion then about why he will now be able to go on so many adventures in the dark is also important as the children will reflect on the stories they read and the places that they want to go and dreams they have thanks to reading. Simple use of language but alongside the delightful images there is so much more meaning to be found. Thank you.

This is the story of Octavio getting glasses, which are new to him. The illustrations are really great, but the plot is lacking. Other than Octavio getting new glasses, not much happened in this book.

Cute story about glasses giving a child access to the world via reading. Loved it and would absolutely recommend that it be added to elementary libraries!

As a fellow glasses wearer, I remember the day I put on my first pair of glasses and couldn’t imagine that people could see so clearly. The world surely opened up and let in the light of all the things I couldn’t really “see” before. And Octavio’s journey through the visuals and experiences his new glasses revealed to him were reminders of how innocence and naïveté are lost as we grow up. I loved the illustration. There were so many humorous moments as we saw things from Octavio’s eyes. This will definitely be a picture book to reread often and experience all of the wonders that Octavio gets to live through.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this charming picture book in exchange for an honest review.

A book about new perspectives when Octavio gets glasses and everything is clearer.
I was really excited about the prospect of this book, since one of my kids just got glasses. Despite what I anticipated based on reading the description, there was a lot in this book that was unexpected. I loved the illustrative style, done completely in yellow and black, which was really innovative. However, Though it was very imaginative, I didn't particularly enjoy how the book focused so much on nefarious and spooky characters - I want to read this book to my kids before they go to bed at night and not give them fuel to wake me up because they've had a bad dream.

I was 10 years old when, like Octavio, I received a pair of glasses and could suddenly see. How crisp everything was! So many details on leaves! How sharp corners and edges were!

This is the perfect book for those seeing for the first time. Because being able to see literally can lead to reading which can read to being able to see metaphorically. Highly recommended, even to those with 20/20 vision.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Kids Can Press in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read. From the limited palette to the unusual art style and story beats, this entire book was just kinda… odd? I wasn’t expecting something so experimental and strange from a children’s book, and it’s frankly inspiring. I liked this book because it was odd and unexpected, and I feel like a certain type of child will also see this and gain inspiration from it. We need more weird artsy books for kids.

Honestly, this wasn't my favorite children's book. I didn't really understand why Octavio's imagination started working just because he got glasses. I think the premise was a little confusing and it didn't seem like a compelling story for kids. I liked the drawings but the story was a ''miss'' for me.

I was drawn to this book by the cover, and the art did not disappoint—it reminds me of Suzy Lee, ie amazing. The story seems, as it starts out, to be a simple, witty one about the benefits of glasses... and then it takes an interesting deep dive into what it might mean to see more clearly. Thoughtful and original; loved it.

Book 014 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

I love the use of black and yellow. I also love the hidden meaning to being able to see the world for what it truly is.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The illustrations are absolutely stunning, Overall, the book was well written and I did really enjoy it. Thank you for this advance reading copy!