Safe at Last
by Richard Jones; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Candlewick    32 pp.
5/25    9781536241310    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781536249330    $18.99

James lives on an island, which he shares with plenty of other creatures (otters, rabbits, birds, bears) whom he greets from his bike every day. Rounded shapes, soft textures, and warm colors make for a blissful backdrop for the text to punctuate: “Every day was the same. Every day was wonderful.” Then one night a storm rolls in, and the mixed-media illustrations take the mood from sunny and serene to dark and threatening in a page-turn. Though James and his cat are safe at home, he worries about his animal neighbors and ultimately goes out to check on them. Art and text work together to amplify the volatility of the weather and James’s alarm at finding himself in it alone—all the animals are gone. The light from his lantern emits a reminder of the safety of home, but when he finally gets back there, some unusual shadows call even that safety into question. All ends well in this compelling island adventure in which everyone truly cares about their neighbors. The illustrations create dramatic moments and endearing characters through deliberate use of shape, color, and line and are full of special details to notice. Endpapers open the story with a single sailboat on a vast sea but close with many boats sailing together, cleverly bookending the story’s broader themes.

From the September/October 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.