NEXT TO ME

A look at the people, places, and objects, both novel and familiar, that make up a child’s world.

School’s out, and Mama and two pups are waiting to escort their kiddo home. As they journey through their neighborhood, the child’s rhythmic, repetitive refrain names landmarks large and small: “I see ORANGE CONES / Next to a BACKHOE / Next to a BIG HOLE.” Look around, the book urges; there’s always more to see. The lists encompass kid-friendly favorites, from the “PUFFY CLOUD” to the ever-popular “TWISTY SLIDE,” while specifics such as the “SPINNY CLOTHES” laundromat ground readers in the child’s world. As the family arrives home, the list transitions to the cozier, more intimate elements leading to bedtime: supper, bathtime, and a story before a “SOFT / Next to SOFT / Next to SOFT” ending that young readers will melt into. In the tub, the “FLOATING BOAT” is festooned with the words SS LIONNI—a reference to kid-lit collage master Leo Lionni—and indeed, Salmieri and Haas’ matte collage illustrations, made from paper colored with acrylics and plant-based inks, have a lovely touch of Lionni-esque color and boldness about them. Vibrant outdoor urban scenes pulse with activity and enough changes in perspective to keep things interesting; more subdued indoor scenes focus on small moments, capturing the closeness between parent and child as they share a story. Mama and the child are tan-skinned; their neighborhood is diverse.

A reassuring meditation about noticing and appreciating your place in the world.