Kiki & Coco in Paris

In this charming oversize picture book, Rausser’s vivid, full-bleed photographs convey the intimate bond between a playful girl named Kiki (Rausser’s daughter), and her cloth doll, Coco, while on a trip to Paris. Never apart, Coco and Kiki play at their Parisian flat (they are seen eating breakfast in bed, practicing handstands, and lounging on the deck), ride carnival rides, and peer down at the city from the Eiffel Tower. Coco’s long, cloth legs dangle below the hem of her yellow dress and “skim the floor like a ballerina.” Meanwhile, Kiki—with an array of outfits that include a pink tutu, polka-dotted raincoat, and striped ankle socks—seems tailor-made for a city of effortlessly chic fashion. During a tense series of events, Kiki forgets Coco at a cafe, but a shaggy dog retrieves her, and after a trip to a doll hospital and a bath, Coco is as good as new. In a world of mass-manufactured toys, there’s a lovely throwback feel to the project, which serves as a reminder of the pleasures to be found in a one-of-a-kind friend. Ages 4–8. (Dec.)