LOST

In this wordless tale, a child searching for a missing cat finds other lost animals along the way.

After failing to find the feline at home, the child takes to the neighborhood, wallpapering every shop and mailbox with “lost” signs. The child encounters the mail carrier, who’s also looking for a lost pet, as well as a shopper seeking a missing giraffe. The child manages to find a pup and a couple of other animals…but what about the cat? Readers can breathe easy: This tale has a happy ending. Staake uses color strategically to highlight what readers should be noticing. All the backgrounds are rendered in shades of gray set against a very pale blue sky. The people with lost pets and the pets themselves are the only elements depicted in color—an artistic choice that turns readers into pet finders and advances the plot in the absence of text. The people themselves are fancifully colored; the protagonist has reddish-pink skin. Their expressive faces and body language effectively signal depth of feeling. All these expert touches make for an accessible work of storytelling art.

A satisfying tale conveyed solely—and adroitly—through images.