AWE!

An introduction to an “Awesome Wondrous Empowering emotion!”

Countless picture books teach children to identify and explore feelings; this title stands out for its focus on one that few other stories have considered: awe. Stiefel provides a vivid, child-friendly explanation of the titular word (“When your heart exclaims, ‘Ooh! Ahhh! Whoaaa!”) before offering examples great and small. Awe can be quiet—the experience of silently taking in the northern lights—or loud, like watching fireworks. “Awe can be deep, dark, and frightful”—here, Gal depicts the grotesque creatures found at the bottom of the ocean—but it can also bring “hope and joy…delightful.” (These words are paired with an image of children wading at the beach, gazing at baby turtles.) Awe brings people together and inspires community and creativity. The book concludes by urging readers to seek out awe wherever they are. Gal’s bold swaths of saturated color infused with movement will leave readers breathless; the book’s very format is used to great effect, creating moments of surprise, with gatefolds and rotated pages. Characters vary in skin tone, culture, religion, and ability. In a concluding note, the author and illustrator explain that they were motivated by research about the positive impact of awe on mental health, creativity, and generosity.

In a word: awesome.