From Powells.com
Hot new releases and under-the-radar gems for adults and kids.
Our favorite books of the year.
Staff Pick
I don't believe that I've read a picture book as affecting as Here We Are. Oliver Jeffers was inspired to write a book for his son — both poignant and heartfelt — and Here We Are offers the gentle reminder that we are not alone, and that taking care of each other, as well as the planet, is the best way to honor humanity. I treasure sharing this sage picture book with my own children. Recommended By Kate L., Powells.com
2017 seemed to possess an element of crazy nearly every day. This beautifully written and illustrated picture book, with its simple and life-affirming message, could not have come at a better time. Recommended By Greg L., Powells.com
Written for his new son, Oliver Jeffers’s picture book Here We Are is wacky, poignant, and sweeping — a lovely guide, for kids and adults alike, to where we are, who we are, and what we should be in the world. Recommended By Gigi L., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Oliver Jeffers, arguably the most influential creator of picture books today, offers a rare personal look inside his own hopes and wishes for his child – and in doing so gifts children and parents everywhere with a gently sweet and humorous missive about our world and those who call it home.
Insightfully sweet, with a gentle humor and poignancy, here is Oliver Jeffers' user’s guide to life on Earth. He created it specially for his son, yet with a universality that embraces all children and their parents. Be it a complex view of our planet's terrain (bumpy, sharp, wet), a deep look at our place in space (it’s big), or a guide to all of humanity (don’t be fooled, we are all people), Oliver's signature wit and humor combine with a value system of kindness and tolerance to create a must-have book for parents.
Review
"A true work of art." BuzzFeed
Review
"Moments of human intimacy jostle with scenes that inspire cosmic awe, and the broad diversity of Jeffers’s candy-colored humans…underscores the twin messages that ‘You’re never alone on Earth’and that we’re all in this together." Publisher’s Weekly starred review
Review
"From the skies to the animal kingdom to the people of the world and lots of other beautifully rendered examples of life on Earth, Here We Are carries a simple message: Be kind." NPR
About the Author
Oliver Jeffers makes art and tells stories. His books include How to Catch a Star; Lost and Found, which was the recipient of the prestigious Nestle Children's Book Prize Gold Award in the U.K. and was later adapted into an award-winning animated film; and the New York Times bestsellers Stuck; This Moose Belongs to Me; and Once Upon an Alphabet. He is also, of course, the illustrator of the #1 smash hits The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home, both written by Drew Daywalt. His fine art is world-renowned and his dip-art exhibitions are a much sought-after event. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Oliver now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and young son.