Lost and Found will hopefully win many awards for this touching adventure story with themes of Love and Friendship at its core.
A boy befriends a penguin and tries to return him to his home at the South Pole. They bond and enjoy each others' companionship. They never give up on each other, even when they become separated. The boy shows surprising maturity when he realizes he made a mistake leaving the penguin and then goes back to find him. What a great lesson to learn, that it's OK to make a mistake, acknowledge it, then take action to amend it!
This story illustrates that it's the Journey, the trip along the way, not necessarily just the destination that gives life meaning and value. Furthermore, the values of friendship, companionship, and sharing come through strongly in this story.
This book also taps into classic, timeless themes of finding one's way back home, almost like a kid's version of The Odyssey.
The watercolors of the book are spectacular, deep and rich. The drawings have an interesting scale that make the two travelers seem quite heroic.
The final reunitement embrace of boy and penguin will melt your heart. What a touching portrait! I challenge the public to find another embrace that is so simple, so pure, so elegant, so Loving.
This book is a Treasure!