Review - A Map Into the World

A Map Into the World
by Kao Kalia Yang
illustrated by Seo Kim
Date: 2019
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A story of a young girl seeking beauty and connection in a busy world.

As the seasons change, so too does a young Hmong girl's world. She moves into a new home with her family and encounters both birth and death. As this curious girl explores life inside her house and beyond, she collects bits of the natural world. But who are her treasures for?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

That synopsis is a bit misleading. I thought there would be a literal collection of things. Instead, those things simply provide inspiration for Paj Ntaub's gift to an elderly friend.

The story is a little slice of life. A family moves in across the street from an old couple. Soon, the family grows as twin baby boys are added... and the couple becomes one person as Ruth dies. Paj Ntaub feels she wants to do something to help Bob, so she gets out her sidewalk chalk and has her mother ask Bob's permission to draw on his driveway. The result is a sweet gift from a child to an old man.

The illustrations certainly work with the story, although I'm not a personal fan of the style. The writing is solid. I enjoyed watching the changing of the seasons, and seeing Paj Ntaub's "collection" grow.

Overall, this is a sweet picture book about an intergenerational gesture of kindness and friendship. It does have some sad elements, but they are handled gently and respectfully, making this a lovely book for children of all ages.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5