A young child journeys toward independence in this award-winning picture book, “visual narrative of the highest level.”*
With richly evocative art by a two-time winner of NY Times’ Best Illustrated Books, here is a story of separation and return.
After a young boy unties the knot anchoring his small boat near his mother, he slips away from her on a gentle tide, floating off on a quiet and peaceful journey through town, jungle, and city. When he floats back to the beach—was it a few hours? a few minutes?—his mother is there at the water’s edge right where he left her. Perhaps it was a dream? And yet he has returned from his solo adventure with a gift pressed into his palm, a tiny seed that when planted will grow on its own.
Separation from a parent, whether for a long period or just a few minutes, can fill a child with anxiety, but at other times that same child may long to do things on their own. Using gouache, collage and watercolor, Lundberg’s stunning illustrations in Nobody But Me convey both the child’s agency and the unbreakable bond with his mother. Here is a story that will bring joy to young and old readers alike. 4-7 years.
“The author invite us to witness the magic of a perfect childhood [story].”**
*August Prize jury
**Special Mention Bologna Ragazzi Awards 2025, Fiction
