About this item
Highlights
- New York Times award winning author/illustrator Sven Völker once again brings his trademark graphic imagery to this gorgeous introduction to philosophical ideas for even the youngest of readers.
- 4-8 Years
- 11.1" x 8.0" Hardcover
- 32 Pages
- Juvenile Fiction, Animals
Description
About the Book
"Bear wakes up after his long winter's sleep and joins his friend, Butterfly, on a journey. "Where are we going?" asks Bear. "All journeys have secret destinations," says Butterfly. As they travel through forest, over hill. and across a great river, Butterfly offers her wisdom about hardships, facing one's fears, and living in the moment. Bear's natural impatience gradually softens into acceptance of the world around him"--Book Synopsis
New York Times award winning author/illustrator Sven Völker once again brings his trademark graphic imagery to this gorgeous introduction to philosophical ideas for even the youngest of readers.
Bear wakes up after his long winter's sleep and joins his friend, Butterfly, on a journey. 'Where are we going?' asks bear. 'All journeys have secret destinations', says Butterfly. As they travel through forest, over hill and across a great river, Butterfly offers her wisdom about hardships, facing one's fears and living in the moment. Bear's natural impatience gradually softens into acceptance of the world around him. As the seasons change, the friends find themselves once more in front of Bear's cave. Landscapes look different with different eyes and the end of one journey is the beginning of another. This is a heartwarming book about friendship and about circles and cycles of life and being. It is a sweet and calming bedtime story that introduces Buddhist philosophies and values to young readers.Review Quotes
A 2024 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
"A sensitive script, touches of humor, and a captivating design combine for an excursion readers will want to repeat." - Kirkus Starred Review
"It's not the goal that matters but what one experiences along the way, suggests this wisdom-oriented tale that ends with another aphorism: "The end of one journey is the beginning of another." - Publishers Weekly
"Are We There Yet? is unreservedly recommended as a very special addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections for children ages 3-7." - Midwest Book Review
"Völker's skill as a graphic designer shines through these sleek, minimalist illustrations: mountains and trees appear as striking sequences of triangles, and the changing of seasons is implied by a shift from red and orange dots to white stars sprinkled across the page. Bear's eyes communicate every ounce of his curiosity, fear, hope, and exhaustion along the way." - The Horn Book
"The story is unexpectedly deeply philosophical as a bear befriends a butterfly and travels with it through nature." - YA Books Central
About the Author
Sven Volker is a Berlin-based author/illustrator and a professor in graphic design. His picture book A Million Dots was a New York Times 'Best Illustrated Children's Book' winner in 2019.