I don’t often review children’s books unless some striking, unusual, or cutting-edge elements to it blow me away. While that happens in little spurts in a lot of the books I consume with my children, occasionally there are some real standouts that I can’t help but want to write about and memorialize for people looking for something new for their own experience in reading with their kids. This winter, I was lucky to pick up two books on the same trip that fit into this category quite well – and I read these and some other greats in the lead up to Halloween.
Death Wins A Goldfish by Brian Rea is a short, reflective journey of the life of Death after he wins a goldfish at the fair. See, he has never gone to the fair, or gone skydiving, or done much of anything outside of work… But when HR tells him that he needs to use up his vacation time and he has no choice, he gets to experience the slow and introspective life and its creature comforts for once. Bold, inky illustrations drive a narrative that is simple but written in a manner that reminds us to use what time we have left rather than letting that free time build up for too long. Live while you can, even if you’re Death.
Little Shrew is a quiet little book by Akiko Miyakoshi about a shrew appreciating the little quiet, alone moments in life amidst all of the responsibilities. From baking bread to typing up a story, this tale is similar to Death Wins A Goldfish thematically as we need to take the time to slow down and appreciate the little things. It is just that, a little thing, teaching us to shrink and appreciate the little things. Beautiful illustrations of a lovely little warm cozy character we all try to be when we have these moments alone.
My five-year-old loved both of these, and we have already read them many times over. Wonderful and true, these two characters bring us through their awakenings of living life to the fullest with the small pleasures within our reach. Just don’t forget they’re there.
Garrett Zecker 