The Comet is an incredible book with phenomenal illustrations about home and belonging.

Nyla and her father live a fun beautiful life near the sea ‘where the trees tower tall and I can count a hundred stars.’ Nyla and her dad spend lots of time together and do fun things like cook delicious feasts, make up stories and drawings, and spend time in nature.

One day, her dad gets a new job, and they have to move to a new place. One where Nyla can’t hear the sea, there is lots of grey and she can only count seven stars – the city. Nyla does not like this place at all, she feels alone and lost. This is not her home. Then one night she looks outside and sees a comet falling from the sky. Through it, a tree grows, and she climbs out her window, and follows it to a comet. Something magical begins to grow and she feels like she is home. But is it real? Or has her imagination run away from her? Will she ever find home?

Imaginative and brilliant, I loved this book. It is wistful and a little sad at times, but stunning. It shows what it is like to be in the mind of a child going through a difficult time, and facing the challenge of finding a sense of belonging in a new place. Change is especially hard on kids, and this shows how difficult it is to be resilient, but that you can make a home anywhere with the right people and the right attitude. It is about positivity and finding a place to call your own, no matter where you live.

The Comet is a beautiful book, I adored the illustrations of the trees and flowers and how they weave their way through the pages – symbolic of the girls creativity, growth and meaning of home. Emotive and wonderful, deep and poignant – The Comet is a wonderful triumph of a story.

This review was originally posted over at the wonderful Kids Book Reviews!

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Title: The Comet
Author/Illustrator: Joe Todd-Stanton
Publisher: Walker Books
Publication Date: 6 July 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781838740658
For ages: 3 – 7