Drawn Onward - by Daniel Nayeri (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In this ... palindrome picture book by Daniel Nayeri and Matt Rockefeller, a young boy grieving the loss of his mother embarks on a lushly fantastical adventure that illuminates what remains when our loved ones are gone"--

Book Synopsis

In this enthralling and emotional palindrome picture book by Daniel Nayeri and Matt Rockefeller, a young boy grieving the loss of his mother embarks on a lushly fantastical adventure that illuminates what remains when our loved ones are gone.

All alone

He was not so brave...

His heart needed to know

The answer.

In this lyrical, heartfelt story, a young boy who's lost all hope braves the dark forest to ask, "Mom, were you glad you were Mom?" Gorgeously illustrated, Drawn Onward gently guides readers through the depths of grief and provides comfort and hope to those who seek answers when it feels like all is lost.

PRAISE FOR DRAWN ONWARD:

An Indie Next PickA Junior Library Guild SelectionAn NPR Best Books of the Year pickA Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2024

Review Quotes

"A gorgeous tale. A delightful puzzle. But most of all, Drawn Onward is a gift for those who believe books to be living things." - Aaron Becker, author of the Caldecott Honor Book Journey
"A touching, poetic journey through grief, bravery and acceptance, so delectably illustrated I want to eat it with a spoon." - Vera Brosgol, author of the Caldecott Honor Book Leave Me Alone
"It's rare to find a book this clever that is also emotionally powerful. Drawn Onward is special and enduring." - Matt de la Peña, author of Newbery winning Last Stop on Market Street
"Nayeri's palindromic text is economical yet, despite its brevity, likely to spark readers' curiosity and reflection. The lush, intricately detailed illustrations by Matt Rockefeller (Poesy the Monster Slayer illustrator) use visual pacing and a videogame-like structure to invite close inspection and expand Nayeri's narrative in multilayered ways." - Shelf Awareness
"Magnificently illuminated, video game-like spreads by Rockefeller (Poesy the Monster Slayer) feature stone ruins, menacing dragons, and ornaments that give the pages a book-of-hours feel. Printz Medalist Nayeri, meanwhile, distills an experience of grief, imparting the importance of seeking time alone to relive moments of shared love." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A touching triumph of artful collaboration between wordsmithing and world building. Nayeri's text is sparse but heartrending, sparking large questions that drive readers forward and allowing Rockefeller ample space to construct an evocative fantasy world." - Booklist (starred review)
"A grieving young boy goes on an impossible adventure and returns, healed. The illustrations are so filled with detail that they demand repeat visits, which will prompt little ones and their grown-ups to delve into the ellipses and explore both text and subtext further." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Sparse text is complemented by awe-inspiring illustration encouraging the reader to take and give this book what they need at any given moment. Steel your hearts. This truly is a masterpiece, a touching accomplishment." - Armadillo Magazine
"Deserves a place on every bookshelf." - NPR