A very appealing book. The (visual) story is interesting and the art phenomenal. There's a "different-but-same" message, or a "unfamiliar-is-familiar" theme that works without being A Message. Sadly, I had no kids around to test it. However, I still think it would make a great children's book. I definitely added to the 'birthday gift' pile.

See Carmen's fabulous review for samples of the artwork. ( )

I'm not going to rate this. I admit, as do other reviewers, that I'm "stumped" and see only a slight story, if any. But, I'm sure that I'm missing something.

The very middle of the book almost looks like the whole thing could be tagged 'sociological science fiction." In this alternate reality, diverse kids play together, it's a dream come true, right? No. The kids are not playing with diverse groups, but only, repeatedly, with their doppelgangers.

Maybe the author's child told him about a dream they had, and it inspired this? And it's wordless because they want to let us create our own interpretations? Fine, but maybe just a fine-print note at the back to give us a hint what they found, if we can't find anything?

Normally I'm a huge fan of "another point of view" stories because they help us learn empathy... but this doesn't seem to be that kind of story.

If you figure out anything, please let me know!
(in comments or PM is fine, or just point me to your review)

Both beautiful and fanciful, this wordless picture book recounts the dream journey of a little girl and her cat. As she slumbers, a portal of light appears in her bedroom, and an identical black cat-with a blue rather than red collar-appears. The visitor pounces on a red toy mouse, which he snatches as he runs back from whence he came. The girl's cat follows him with his owner, now wide awake, close behind. They encounter an undulating staircase, a roomful of colorful balls, and a bright, stripy treadmill, in a world with children of all backgrounds playing together. Hobby horses, hula hoops, sidewalk drawings, jump ropes, bubbles, and books occupy the happy youngsters. Here the girl meets her alternate self in an almost identical nightshirt-sporting a blue, rather than red planet. The other child pets her cat and retrieves the coveted red mouse, tossing it to its rightful owners. They say goodbye and return through their respective portals, back to their own worlds. The girl sleeps again; the cat rests on the bed with his toy. All is as it was…or is it? Was that blue mouse on the floor always there? Vibrant shapes reminiscent of Paul Klee or Piet Mondrian fill the pages. In the bedroom world, the background is black, while the dream world is set against stark white.

The highlight of this wordless book by Robinson are its illustrations, which are somewhat evocative of Eric Carle. However, Robinson adds a couple of interesting things: first, a broad cross-section of children from different backgrounds and second, looking at things from different perspectives (in almost an Escher-like way.) The story did not make much sense, at least to me. ( )