Robinson’s art brings out these qualities, using mixed media collage to convey the richness of daily experiences.

Milo Imagines the World - Matt de la Peña - Google Books Milo Imagines the World - Matt de la Peña - Google Books

Is he a lonely bachelor with only cats and other animals to keep him company in his dingy apartment? Milo combines the messaging of those other two books with a gut punch ending and a slow sinking in of the story at its core.

The elements at work in Milo Imagines the World should, potentially, work for any number of books out there. As a follow-up, readers should be encouraged to make their own suggestions to complete the titular phrase. If Last Stop on Market Street was focused on public transportation in the form of a bus, Milo Imagines the World prefers public transportation in the form of a subway car. But when Milo gets off the train, he is surprised to find that White boy heading to the same destination as him. There's the wedding-dressed woman with a little dog peeking out of her handbag; Milo imagines her in a grand cathedral ceremony.

Milo Imagines the World - Matt de la Peña Milo Imagines the World - Matt de la Peña

Simple word rhythms and pictures combine with a solid philosophical foundation to offer a story about living every day in a world of unknowns. This poignant, thought-provoking story speaks volumes for how art can shift one’s perspectives and enable an imaginative alternative to what is . What makes it stand out is the simple fact that Milo’s mom isn’t the focus of the book and merely supports its message. Milo must, with minimal human interactions, come to a complex understanding of how the human mind works and how he personally (and through him, the child reader) can take steps to avoid its tricks and traps.Families can talk about how Milo and his sister felt on the train every week in Milo Imagines the World. Neither the words nor art are heavy-handed or moralistic, but breathe gently across the pages like Milo’s own imagination. Grappling with story is challenging when it detours from our comfort zone, but it's the only way we learn from our mistakes and improve going forward. We could use some reminding that the circumstances we find ourselves in and the choices, good or bad, that led us there are not the only thing that defines us. As my kids get older, they have mostly dropped out of the reading, but I still have anywhere from 2-4 readers with me this year.

MILO IMAGINES THE WORLD | Kirkus Reviews MILO IMAGINES THE WORLD | Kirkus Reviews

Maybe that boy in a suit has servants and gourmet crust-free sandwich squares waiting for him at home. Please bear in mind too that what Christian Robinson does with his acrylic pants and collages and digital art is exceedingly difficult.That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. Readers of Milo Imagines the World will feel compassion stacked on top of heartache on top of humility on top of hope. For whatever reason, you can always tell when a book set in New York is made by someone who has never lived there or hasn’t lived there in years.

Milo Imagines the World : Matt de la Pena, Robinson;Christian

We all distract ourselves from life's anxieties by telling ourselves stories about the people we interact with, whether we know them well or are virtual strangers.And then, the revelation that is so simple you’d think even grown-ups would get it: “Maybe you can’t really know anyone just by looking at their face. Milo’s drawings help him understand the world in ways that just talking may not, echoing the value of art therapy for children in processing difficult experiences, as well as reminding us of the value of drawing as expression for everyone. The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. But good commentary on the limits of the imagination; you have to dig deeper to really know someone, but will kids at this age really be able to appreciate this point?