Adelaide’s Secret World

A slender, humanlike rabbit named Adelaide works in a small storefront that was once bustling, “but over time, Adelaide found herself all alone, and the quiet stillness crept into her heart and stayed.” She crafts tiny figurines of other lonely animals she sees in her city, including a solitary fox who sits near her shop. When he drops his book, she returns it, but she’s too overcome to speak. That evening, a strange storm gives Adelaide fresh inspiration and the courage to change. Australian artist Hurst’s painterly spreads are lush and bewitching. Her story unfolds in an alternate world in which curiosities lurk in unexpected corners: Chinese junks ply the air above the city, and a school of goldfish floats outside Adelaide’s shop window. The rabbit’s unexplained shyness and sense of loss may puzzle some readers; her deep feelings for the fox offer hints of romance. As sunshine breaks through the clouds, Adelaide has festooned her city with lengths of red ribbon, bringing its citizens together. It’s a cryptic conclusion, but Hurst’s dazzling images will leave readers eager to puzzle out the mysteries of Adelaide’s world. Ages 5–9. (Feb.)