The Comet

K-Gr 3–Eye-catching yellows, deep blues, and sea greens wash over the illustrations that accompany the story of Nyla and her father, who both have brown skin, and who have recently moved to the city from their ocean home. Previously, they listened to the waves, cooked together, played make-believe animals, made up stories, looked up at the vast sky, and even saw a comet once. A new job for her father has changed everything. The city is crowded and busy and stars are barely visible in the night sky. “Dad has to work all the time…and there is no time for feasts…or stories. I can’t see above the crowds…my new school is full of wild animals…and there are no sounds of waves to fall asleep to.” Loneliness settles in like an endless winter. One night, while Nyla and her kitty are looking out the window at the rows of buildings, they notice a comet! Using her creativity and a lot of paint, Nyla is finally able to bring the beauty of her former home alive, imaginatively and messily, in her new bedroom. Simple, short sentences allow the pictures to tell the story, and luckily, Nyla has an empathetic father. Several pages are full-color spreads while others feature the small panels associated with graphic novels. It’s a unique way to deliver such emotional and yet understated content.