JOSEPHINE

Experience life from the point of view of a gentle giant.

Josephine, a typically long-necked, yellow-and-orange spotted giraffe with black-tipped pointy ears, experiences the world through optimistic eyes. A day playing “games with the clouds” generates the same awe as the changing of the seasons and the passing of day into night. In Josephine, author/illustrator Alméras has created a serene protagonist who encourages children to stop and connect with the world while always appreciating its natural beauty. Translated from French, the brief yet effective text depicts an inquisitive giraffe who joyfully participates in life: “She loses herself in the choppy waves” while taking a dip in the sea, and her curiosity extends to “the world down below” as she sticks her neck down a burrow to gaze at a family of critters. Softly drawn with faint black dots for eyes, a simple curved line for a mouth, and a rounded black-tipped nose, Josephine is an easygoing yet expressive character whose mild presence stands in contrast to her imposing frame. Minimally detailed settings are set against mainly stark white backgrounds. While some of the concepts referenced—mindfulness, for instance—may be a bit too subtle for the intended audience of board book readers, little ones will nevertheless relate to a world where, as for Josephine, “every day...is filled with wonder.”

Simultaneously tranquil and thought provoking.