Picture Book Review: Little Pearl

Little Pearl by Martin Widmark
Little Pearl
by Martin Widmark, Emilia Dziubak (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars


Grace tells the story of how her brother disappeared, and how she followed him into a land where she was tiny as a bug. She befriends some silly insects, but is then kidnapped by a monstrous crab and forced to dive deep into the river looking for pearls. How will Grace ever escape the crab and find her lost brother?

This story is so whimsical and imaginative! I love the mellow story-telling and the rich writing. The story has a positive message that together we can overcome any obstacle and rescue ourselves if we work together.

I adore the beautiful illustrations! The art is warm and delicate, and makes me think of sunny summer days and cool shade by the water. It’s a little window into a fantasy world.

The characters are memorable, and some of them are very funny. The insect friends keep mixing up words, saying “shrug” instead of “bug”, or “unravelling” instead of “travelling.” It’s really cute and silly! The insects remind me a little bit of the insects in “James and the Giant Peach”, but these characters have their own charm and style.

One of the things I loved most is that Grace’s brother plays the flute, and his music is depicted in the illustrations as tendrils of leaves and blossoms with little rain clouds. As though the sounds had come to life as imagery floating on the air, the melancholy music grows and moves through the story, bringing the two siblings together once more.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

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