PEPPERMINT

From author/illustrator Sano, an unusually colored, anthropomorphized zebra struggles to fit in at her new school.

In a world full of humbug-colored zebras, Peppermint has the red stripes of a candy cane. Her Mama encourages her to walk tall and proud, but as the only red-striped zebra at her new school, she feels out of place. She slouches and drags her hooves, which attracts the attention of bullies. Peppermint is very lonely, and yet, outside of school, she demonstrates a wonderful acuity in finding and appreciating uniqueness: a wildflower growing from a crack in a rock; a cloud shaped like a fish; a yoga-posed carrot and a heart-shaped apple. In art class one day, Peppermint feels so isolated, she paints her stripes black to fit in. This, however, only leads to further humiliation…and danger when, sobbing, she runs away down to the plains where the lions roam. Luckily for Peppermint, her purple ribbon–wearing classmate, Zophia, comes to her rescue. From then on, Peppermint and Zophia become best friends. Peppermint does walk tall and proud, and the bullies leave her alone. Peppermint’s tale follows a predictable arc, narrated in straightforward text but with engaging illustrations. Sano combines minimal ink outlines with complex watercolor hues: pastel purples for Peppermint’s feelings; brighter, adjacent colors for the outdoors, wonderous discoveries, and the happy childhood she stands apart from. Through subtle shifts and juxtapositions, Sano, whose previous book was Martie Merganser and the Big Waterfall (2022), captures the uneasy balance that exists between the natural world and the emotional landscape humans map onto it. Zophia’s befriending of Peppermint comes out of the blue, but a closer examination of the preceding pages reveals that this development is no deus ex machina. The relationship—at least from Zophia’s side—is presaged in her art class painting (of Peppermint), and in several scenes prior to that when Zophia, herself a loner, is shown in the background, too shy to approach. Peppermint, like the reader, was just too caught up in her own problems to notice! Such finesses repay multiple readings and make for a beautiful learning experience.

A tender story of finding wonder in the world, in oneself, and others.