Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

The prolific German picture-book creator here fills nearly 200 pages with contemplative questions—and corresponding images.While some spreads pair a single thought and illustration in a verso/recto pattern, other ideas are examined over several pages. The book opens and concludes with children on chairs, first musing about growing up, later dreaming; also near the end are youth on a tightrope (acknowledging fear) and swing (aiming high). Some questions deal with the everyday, tangible, or familiar realm: "What if the winter never ends?"; "Why are they so mean to me?" Others are more existential: "When somebody is very old and dies, / and a tree grows out of his grave, / is he then the tree?" Teckentrup maintains interest with ever changing page designs punctuated with white space. Her beautifully textured, layered compositions are created by scanning and digitally composing art that has been printed and painted by hand. While the palette changes with the mood, the art is tonally consistent, lending an overall unity. Skin tones range from realistic (brown) to the fantastic (blue or decorated, i.e., a starlit silhouette). The variety of questions ensures that a wide swath of reflective readers will find something to ponder, whether it is "Will he like me?" as subsequent pages show two (possibly) boys getting closer to kissing or the rhetorical "Do birds like to fly?"A handsome volume offering conversation starters, writing prompts, or thoughtful browsing pleasure. (Picture book. 6-adult)

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

The prolific German picture-book creator here fills nearly 200 pages with contemplative questions—and corresponding images.While some spreads pair a single thought and illustration in a verso/recto pattern, other ideas are examined over several pages. The book opens and concludes with children on chairs, first musing about growing up, later dreaming; also near the end are youth on a tightrope (acknowledging fear) and swing (aiming high). Some questions deal with the everyday, tangible, or familiar realm: "What if the winter never ends?"; "Why are they so mean to me?" Others are more existential: "When somebody is very old and dies, / and a tree grows out of his grave, / is he then the tree?" Teckentrup maintains interest with ever changing page designs punctuated with white space. Her beautifully textured, layered compositions are created by scanning and digitally composing art that has been printed and painted by hand. While the palette changes with the mood, the art is tonally consistent, lending an overall unity. Skin tones range from realistic (brown) to the fantastic (blue or decorated, i.e., a starlit silhouette). The variety of questions ensures that a wide swath of reflective readers will find something to ponder, whether it is "Will he like me?" as subsequent pages show two (possibly) boys getting closer to kissing or the rhetorical "Do birds like to fly?"A handsome volume offering conversation starters, writing prompts, or thoughtful browsing pleasure. (Picture book. 6-adult)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In the vein of Jostein Gaarder-s Questions Asked and Antje Damm-s Ask Me, Teckentrup-s collection of questions, one per spread, takes readers on a dreamlike wander through the boundaries of possibility and reality. Beginning with -How will I see the world when I am grown up?- the queries address themes of change, identity and relationships, and hopes and fears. In her signature graphic style, Teckentrup illustrates grainy figures on white backgrounds-the likenesses gaze out of windows, appear in groups and alone, and populate sweeping vistas. In one spread--Is the world inside or outside of me?-a blue sky and white clouds comprise a person-s torso. Though many of the inclusions feel weighty, all that curiosity can-t help but come with a wink, and the book ends with an amusing ask: -Do all people ask the same questions?- Ages 6-up. (Apr.)