SAFE AT LAST

James lives alone in a small house on an island.

Despite his solitude, the light-skinned youngster isn’t lonely at all; each morning he greets his animal friends as he bikes around the island. James enjoys his soothingly predictable routine, but one night, a storm assails the island. Although he’s frightened, he decides to venture out to check on his pals. His familiar terrain has transformed something unfamiliar, and his anxiety only increases when none of his friends appear to be at home. Too frightened to stay outdoors much longer, James heads back to his own house, only to see terrifying-looking shapes through the window. Once safe inside, he finds his friends gathered there, just as worried about him as James was about them. The mutual concern is evident on the characters’ faces—animals and boy. The lyrical, quietly intense language builds tension expertly, while the mixed-media illustrations please the senses, contrasting idyllic scenes with the ferocity of the storm. Jones’ use of color and texture is especially effective; he blends blues, blacks, and whites for a page showing crashing waves that threaten to engulf the island, while he employs warm oranges and browns for his depictions of James’ cozy home.

By turns fearsome, surprising, and comforting—an ideal adventure for little ones.