Little Wonder

Keane imagines the voice of a faithful, caring adult following a youth on a splendid undersea adventure. As a brown-skinned child readies for the day in a bedroom awash in blues and lavenders, opening lines read, “There is no place too far/ no dream too grand—/ for an unstoppable/ Little Wonder like you.” Images blend underwater allure and ordinary life as the child packs a knapsack, downs a plateful of pancakes, and marches off into the wilds of the sea, accompanied by an ever-present cheering voice. The scary skeleton of a huge predator doesn’t stop them (“The night may be dark, but/ your courage is bright”), and the child pushes on into the gloom with their flashlight. When they return home, the voice is revealed as that of the child’s adult caregiver, who listens with loving attention as they recount the events of a day nourished by authentic support. Ages 3–5. (Mar.)