Lost
by Bob Staake; illus. by the author
Primary    Schwartz/Random    48 pp.
10/24    9780593707029    $18.99
Library ed.  9780593707036    $21.99
e-book ed.  9780593707043    $10.99

Many people can relate to the worry that strikes when a pet goes missing. Staake (Bluebird, rev. 3/13) brings empathy, camaraderie, and humor to a familiar experience in this wordless picture book. As a child searches for a missing cat, they discover that other people are missing pets all over town: some common animals and others…not so much. As they go about their pursuit, a series of chain reactions results in surprising twists, newfound friends, and eventually lots of happy reunions. Staake’s illustrations invite readers to join the search party. His creatively varied and detail-packed panel sequences keep the plot moving forward, but readers won’t want to flip through the pages too quickly. Each spread holds clues as to how the pets and owners will eventually reunite. The judicious use of bold colors over black-and-white backgrounds allows viewers to follow each character through sometimes-crowded scenes, emphasizing their actions and range of emotions (from fear to determination to relief) throughout the entire tale. The entertaining payoff reflects the power that can come from neighbors—and even their pets—banding together to assist one another.

From the ">September/October 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.