BookLife review, Editor's Pick:

In this enchanting picture book for young children, a boy named Kai discovers the excitement and power of storytelling. Fascinated by all things spooky and mysterious, Kai is delighted when his grandmother gives him a book “filled with the most spine-tingling creatures imaginable,” and he can’t wait to share the magic with his friends. He gathers a group of children and tells them about the kappa, a mythical creature that has a bowl of water on its head that “gives them strength and power to move rivers just by thinking about it.” The catch, of course, is that kappas also like to snatch kids, and when Kai shares this detail, most of his audience runs away in tears.

Gamarra (author of How to Grow a Marshmallow Tree), fortunately, handles tones and feelings in storytelling more deftly than Kai does. Readers will enjoy how, despite this disappointing reception, Kai continues to delight in his world of make-believe, getting a kick out of running into town shouting, “A kappa is here to take me away!” After a while, everyone stops listening—and that’s when Kai gets a thrilling surprise that will test his cleverness and blur the line between fantasy and reality. Cleverly, Gamarra doesn’t belabor whether Kai’s riverside encounter with a kappa was actually “real,” which will encourage kids to ask questions and come to their own conclusions.

Marta Pilosio’s distinctive illustrations offer a thrilling glimpse into Kai’s old-timey world, with the children wearing simple, practical clothing and the adults shown holding farming implements and loaves of bread. The pictures utilize mostly muted tones of gray, blue, and brown, giving the ethereal sense that Willow Creek is similar to—yet distinct from—contemporary life. The children’s faces are curious and expressive, while the adults are often shown scowling while going about their work. Ultimately, this captivating tale encourages kids and grownups to put aside their chores and revel in their imaginations.

Takeaway: Lively modern fairy tale of the excitement and power of storytelling.

Comparable Titles: Amanda Noll’s I Need My Monster, Marc Tyler Nobleman’s The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra.