Hugo

Hugo, the dapper, attentive pigeon who stars in this story by Atinuke (Too Small Tola) is warden of a park in a city that feels like Paris. He's everywhere--greeting visitors, charming infants and dogs, tidying up--and he knows everyone, except for a family that lives behind "one window where the curtains are never open." He visits the windowsill anyway, and one day, Hugo spies a Black child in a yellow dress peeking out of the panes. He offers his "spring-is-coming dance," sparking a small smile, and calls the child "Somebody." After "Somebody" saves Hugo from a marauder, they nurse him back to health and, eventually heading out of doors alongside Hugo, are swiftly embraced as a playmate: Aimée. Loosely sketched, atmospheric drawings of the park by Sif (My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon) are illuminated with brilliant rays of light. Why does Aimée stay inside? Atinuke doesn't say. Sif portrays Aimée's surroundings as settled and comfortable; a parent works calmly in the kitchen. In this character-driven tale, the draw is the relationship between open, personable Hugo and the way his need draws solitary Aimée out of isolation. Ages 3--7. (June)

A pigeon named Hugo enjoys the job of looking after a park in a Francophone city. Hugo is a park warden. His job is to look after the park and the people who live around it. Through the seasons, Hugo keeps people company, encourages them to walk, cleans up after children, and entertains little ones. In the winter, Hugo visits people at their windows to remind them that spring will be back. There is one window whose curtains never open when Hugo visits. But Hugo persists, and one day Somebody appears at the window and smiles. Somebody, who is a little Black child, slowly becomes a good friend of Hugo's, and when Hugo is injured, Somebody takes care of Hugo. But when Hugo is ready to go back to work, Somebody is sad…until the new friendship draws her outside as well. In this role reversal, human characters are seen as creatures needing care and community. Atinuke's engaging storytelling style works well in this picture book, giving Hugo a personality, voice, and purpose that young readers will latch onto. Soft-lined illustrations with gentle pastel colors use a well-paced mix of double-page spreads, full-page scenes, and small vignettes to capture a changing environment filled with diverse personalities. A layered, affecting story of friendship and community. (Picture book. 3-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.