Away

Starred review from February 1, 2017
A busy mother and child stay connected with notes as an important separation approaches in Sher and Leng's debut collaboration.Raiding the fridge for breakfast before school, brown-skinned Skip finds a sticky note from pale-skinned Mom, who has apparently already left, on the door: "Let's have one more movie night before you go." When Mom returns, a similar note awaits her in reply: "I'm not going. Not EVER!" Over the next few days, notes continue appearing from Mom as she readies Skip for an upcoming departure to sleepover camp, as well as notes with replies from Skip, who has no intention of attending camp. Alongside reminders for each other about buying milk, trips to the laundromat, and a visit from Mimsy (grandma), the family's notes also contain a gentle tug of war as Skip adamantly insists that camp is out of the question and Mom patiently counters each concern. Sher manages to capture the familiar anxiety of a first-time camper as well as the quiet persistence of a parent's reassurance as these succinct but affecting messages move steadily from unease to confidence. The sticky notes themselves move in and out of the limelight with each page turn as Leng's breathy illustrations exude the easy energy of the characters while bringing their deceptively simple notes to full emotional life. The open ambiguity of the illustrations will allow readers to imagine Skip as either Mom's biracial biological child or her adoptive child of color. Untrammeled and honest. (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from February 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-Skip is heading to summer camp soon, but despite her mom's reassurance, she's certain that she'll have a terrible time. However, a visit from Mimsy, Skip's maternal grandmother, soon begins to convince the girl that camp might be fun. Unusually-and effectively-the story is told entirely through notes that the mother and daughter leave for each other. Both Skip's and Mom's voices are conveyed adroitly; Mom is patient yet firm ("You won't be gone forever. Just two weeks."), while Skip is relatably insecure and nervous ("I'm not packing. NOT EVER!"). The loose, sketchy illustrations, beautifully rendered in watercolor and ink, rely on an earthy, muted palette to bring soothingly domestic scenes to life. Details such as Lester, Skip's cat, who can be found on most spreads, and a reminder on the calendar to replace a hearing aid battery add to the homey, familiar feeling. The result is an authentic portrait of a loving, diverse family (Skip is brown-skinned, while her mother and grandmother are white). Skip's and her mother's lives are packed with activity, but they are never too busy to support each other.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 1, 2017
Grades K-2 *Starred Review* A stubborn refusal to leave home for the first time is familiar territory, but Sher and Leng liven it up by comically relating Skip's reluctance to go to sleep-away camp and her single mom's gently insistent reassurances exclusively through a series of sticky notes left for each other. The notes appear plastered on all kinds of objects around the cluttered home the two share, and in addition to the good-natured argument about camp, Sher reveals illuminating glimpses of their everyday life. Skip's mom is realistically busy, and amid the mundane details of buying groceries, doing laundry, taking care of their cat, and helping Skip study for a math test, she lovingly and matter-of-factly addresses her daughter's nerves about camp. Leng's freewheeling, boisterous ink lines and watercolor washes echo Skip's jittery kid energyher hair winds wildly around her head, while piles of toys and clothes jostle about in her roomand the choice to give Skip dark skin, unlike her white mother's, is very refreshing. With an entertainingly offbeat storytelling format and fantastic artwork full of eye-catching details (particularly their chubby cat), this endearing picture book with an empowering message of bravery will surely resonate with little ones nervous about their own burgeoning independence.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)