Milo Imagines the World

A New York Times Bestseller
A #1 Indie Bestseller
A Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
A Horn Book Fanfare List Selection
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Shelf Awareness Best Children’s Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
A BCCB Blue Ribbon List Selection
An ALA Notable Children’s Book
A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
Longlisted for the 2022 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal

“Bright, fun, whimsical . . . An absolutely wonderful book for kids.” —Good Morning America

“Exquisite . . . Ends with a heartfelt punch.” —The TODAY Show

“Brilliant.” —The New York Times Book Review

“A great message for kids, and a good one for adults to be reminded of from time to time as well.” —The A.V. Club

* “With the same combination of wide-eyed observation and suspenseful buildup to a socially conscious revelation that readers cherished in this duo’s award-winning Last Stop on Market Street (2015), this picture book offers a child’s view of the impacts of incarceration on families. De la Peña’s descriptive language and Robinson’s innocent, endearing art make for another winning package . . . A memorable, thought-provoking story poised to make a difference for many.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “Harold and the Purple Crayon meets twenty-first-century urban realism . . . As in Jacqueline Woodson’s Visiting Day, the joy and parent-child love shine through . . . This poignant, thought-provoking story speaks volumes for how art can shift one’s perspectives and enable an imaginative alternative to what is . . . or seems to be.” —The Horn Book, starred review

* “Robinson intersperses scenes of his signature cut-paper collage artwork . . . with images of Milo’s sketchbook, and the child-like drawings in thick crayon lines not only give insight into his imagination but his heart . . . An excellent conversation-starter for modern times.” —Booklist, starred review

* “A text that flows like poetry . . . Glorious.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review 

* “In this rich, multilayered journey, the award-winning creators of Last Stop on Market Street celebrate a city’s kaleidoscope of scenes, offer a glimpse at a child’s experience with parental incarceration, and convey that child’s keen observations about his circumstances and surroundings.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “Readers of Milo Imagines the World will feel compassion stacked on top of heartache on top of humility on top of hope.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review 

“Pictures brimming with activity, an endearing main character, and threads for thinking about art, families, and what we see in others make this a book that will hold up to many readings.” —School Library Journal

“De la Peña’s prose is precise and evocative . . . His story respects young readers by incorporating their complex interior worlds and the observant ways they attend to issues of class . . . Robinson’s signature collage illustrations bring Milo and his sister’s distinct personalities to life . . . This sweet but never saccharine story is a classic in the making.” —BookPage

“Sweet yet poignant . . . Manages to be sophisticated while also bringing in the joy and wonder associated with picture books.” —The San Diego Union-Tribune