Charming patchwork animals discover why people are more important than things.
Great for fans of Patricia Polacco’s Bun Bun Button, Ross Burach’s Pine & Boof: The Lucky Leaf.
PICTURE BOOKS
Just Enough Ranee Taylor | RDX Collective 40p, hardcover, $17.99, ISBN 979-8-9869953-1-1
An adorable Patchwork Bunny searches for her blanket that’s gone missing in Taylor’s exceptional children’s book debut. Elenor, an agreeable mixture of “odds and ends… bits and pieces,” enjoys snuggling, new adventures, and is a bit messy. When her favorite baby blanket disappears, she’s understandably upset and enlists her mother’s help to find it. “The problem is your room. You have too much in here to find anything” her mom advises as they search for her lost treasure. When Elenor’s adventurous aunt shows up the next day for a visit, and senses Elenor’s gloomy mood, she’s quick to offer her help to remedy the situation as well.
Malina’s dreamy illustrations mimic the patchwork patterns on the characters, giving this story a charming jumble of bright hues and colorful patterns. Elenor’s aunt, a plucky bunny who’s traveled the world, cautions Elenor that things aren’t as important as Patchworks, sharing that she prefers collecting memories to “bring them home to share with you.”
When Elenor’s not quite sure she can remember her memories, her aunt explains they’re stored in her heart and mind. That prompts the two to embark on their own inhouse adventure up to the family attic, where they discover a “longforgotten family trunk” that Elenor adopts as her very own treasure box, to store her favorite things in. Adults will relish the many opportunities Taylor provides for deeper conversations, whether that’s the chance to discuss how to keep personal space neat or Elenor’s eventual realization that “you have to be careful with the things you love the most.” Of course, she eventually finds the missing blanket, in the process uncovering several toys she decides to donate to other Patchworks who “had too little.” And, in classic children’s book form, Elenor closes the story with unusual wisdom: “[she] discovered that her favorite things are really her favorite people.”
Cover: A | Design & typography: A | Illustrations: A Editing: A | Marketing copy: A