Although I think the very end was a tad lacking in delivering a solid message or emphasis on any given theme, all the other other elements of this book were beautiful! The artwork is just stunning, using watercolors in the dreamiest ways to convey emotions, changing seasons, memories, and even nostalgia. The story is charming and honest, and the earnest frankness of the characters friendship is heartwarming through and through. :,) ( )

I love love love the artwork in this book! ( )

3.75 ( )

The quick look I got at the cover didn't interest me, but this turned out to be one of those books you definitely cannot judge by the cover.

The endpages are decorated with delicately drawn leaves, shifting from green to gold to red. The story begins with a rabbit named Llewellyn walking through a forest of beech trees in autumn. In his jars he collects things; memories, feelings, and sights, feathers, flowers, and leaves. He meets a friend named Evelyn and together they collect many beautiful things together. When Evelyn moves away, "Llewellyn's heart felt like an empty jar." But then he remembers his collections and the two begin to exchange their precious thoughts and memories. The story ends where it began, with Llewellyn walking through the autumn leaves, this time planning to collect a jarful for Evelyn, and there he meets a new friend.

Mercero captures the theme of collection with dozens of thumbnail pictures, showing the two characters and their precious collections. They're not really comic panels, although they do have a certain sequence, each one is a glimpse into a single moment in the story.

Verdict: The intricate and detailed pictures and brief, quiet text take this out of the running for storytime, but it's the perfect book for quiet kids, reading one-on-one, or for kids (or adults) missing a friend.

ISBN: 9780525514596; Published January 2020 by Putnam; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library