SAME TIME, NEXT WEEK?

Though a road trip out of the city to see the stars goes awry, four animal friends find joy in the journey.

Night is falling, and Giraffe, Turtle, Sheep, and Crocodile pile into a van to stargaze. Exiting a bright city teeming with cars and towering skyscrapers, they enter a dim, pastoral countryside, a rural/urban divide marked by an impressive visual demarcation. Though their trip is low-key, it’s relatable. The unusual but obviously affectionate friend group chitchats, and small moments of gentle humor—around things like Giraffe’s umbrella keeping his protruding head dry and Turtle’s penchant for road snacks—keep the trip rolling along. When the van’s occupants agree to a brief nap that goes long, it’s a near disaster. They’ve missed the stars. But rather than bemoan their error, they embrace the moment and share the sunrise together, pledging to try again next week, this time “a smidge earlier.” Buttery yellow highlights and large swatches of dusky black, gray, and green made from scribbly lines give the art a burnished look that makes their trip feel like an odyssey, especially when the friends contentedly watch the sky become suffused with sunlight. Droop’s naïve-style art, with its jittery, impressionistic lines, adds to the sense of childlike wonder. Translated from German, the narrative feels pleasantly conversational, almost like an early reader.

An affirming reminder to always look on the bright side of life.