No One Is Home
by Mikolaj Pa; illus. by Gosia Herba; trans. from Polish by Scotia Gilroy
Primary    Greystone Kids    48 pp.
4/25    9781778402180    $18.95

Leo, a lion, gets up and heads across town toward his best friend’s house, determined to surprise Kimbo, a butterfly, on his birthday. Leo encounters a series of hurdles. First an insect parade blocks the way, then the line at the bakery is so long that Leo can’t get the hoped-for cream puffs. The lion decides to write a poem as his gift but can’t find a closing rhyme, and even the penguins at Penguin and Sons rhyme store are unable to help. Eventually, Leo arrives at Kimbo’s house to find that Kimbo is not home. A quick phone call resolves the dilemma, and the two meet midway between their houses for the birthday celebration and Kimbo’s retelling of the details of his own crosstown trip. This is a quirky picture book that celebrates the humorous moments in ordinary life. The birthday celebration is never the point of the story; rather, each friend’s journey takes center stage. The town is populated by a wide variety of humans and animals, all wearing colorful clothing. The city streets are as inviting as they are chaotic, and a close look at any scene will reward readers with joyful, often funny, always unusual details. Delightfully vibrant and child-friendly.

From the July/August 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.