A LITTLE BIT BROKEN

An abandoned stuffed bear makes his way home with a lot of help in Leonie’s chapter book for young readers.

Luna the dog has Jonas’ best friend Albert in her mouth, and Albert is in big trouble. Jonas is a little boy with light brown hair and fair-colored skin; Jonas’ best friend Albert is a well-loved stuffed bear. By the time Aunt Mina comes to the rescue, Albert has been ripped almost to shreds. Jonas convinces Aunt Mina to sew Albert back together, but when grumpy Uncle David arrives home, he puts his foot down: “You can’t call that repulsive thing a stuffed animal anymore. It reeks of old dog slobber. That rag isn’t even suitable for Luna to chew on. First thing tomorrow, we’ll go to the toy store to get Jonas the biggest and shiniest bear we can find.” Uncle David throws Albert into the nearest receptacle—the compost bin. Inside the bin, Albert meets a surprisingly charming maggot named Maud, who introduces him to her friends: Timo the mouse, Kelvin the beetle, and Sofia the snail. Together, the creatures hatch a plan to help Albert return home to Jonas. After some death-defying stunts and near-misses, Timo gets Albert inside the house, but for the homestretch, they’ll need Luna’s help. Interspersed with the text are childlike hand-drawn illustrations with watercolor backgrounds;the characters are portrayed with intricate detail. The adventure story is dynamic, enthralling, and sometimes contemplative. Albert often reflects on things he has learned from Jonas about nature to help him along his quest, and appreciates the differences that make all the creatures he meets special.  (Upon meeting Vera, the spider: “Once the initial wave of fear passes, he finds himself fascinated. He’s never been this close to a spider before and Vera’s an extraordinary sight. She spins flawless silk from her underbelly and her movements are deliberate and graceful.”) In Albert, readers will find an environmentally conscious, brave, and deeply sympathetic protagonist who is willing to do anything for his best friend.

An inspiring ecosystem of kind creatures work together to make the impossible possible.