In a sweet, tender exchange, an aging English puppeteer passes his vision on to a young kindred soul. . . . In keeping with the narrative’s measured lightness, Stewart’s fluid brush and line work lends warm informality. . . . A meditation on art and family, rich in language and feeling.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The uncommonly kind story conjures a world teeming with magic and stories, and big subjects, including aging and death, are treated with deep respect and remarkable lightness. Wonderful wordless black-and-white illustrations occasionally take over narrative duties, and the overall effect is as cozy as a warm cup of tea. A gentle gem of a book that encourages readers to delight in their lives and the world around them.
—Booklist (starred review)
Dreamlike and thoughtful, this contemporary take on Pinocchio teems with a genuine sense of wonder. Utilizing a subtle, ambiguous magic to explain Puppet’s animation, Almond spins a gently introspective story that eschews overt conflict to meditate on the joys of creativity, artistry, and puppetry. Quirky, stylized illustrations by Stewart add a balanced blend of whimsy and realism.
—Publishers Weekly
The quiet celebration of life in all forms. . . is inspiring and makes the inevitably melancholy conclusion all that more meaningful. Stewart’s expressive black and white art adds significant emotion to the work, with some wordless sequential paneling progressing the story and a number of impactful full-page illustrations inviting readers to linger over the details.
—The Bulletin
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