Loops

Via artwork that evokes the peppy boldness of vintage screen-printed posters and a horizontal format that turns “learning to be a big kid!” into a full stage-show, Awan (Every Monday Mabel) zeroes in on a common milestone on the wobbly path to maturation. A determined child, sporting a teal hoodie that frames their orange skin and black hair, navigates the pride and peril of wearing their first pair of “big-kid shoes”—red sneakers with laces. Trouble is, those laces keep coming undone, and bought with “room to grow,” the untied kicks are inclined to slip off. But the young narrator refuses to dwell on frustration, breaking the fourth wall with indomitable enthusiasm to demonstrate lace-tying and offer steadiness in the face of setbacks: “It’s okay—I’m still learning.” Memories of earlier victories— managing to swing without a push, conquering the tall slide, tackling the merry-go-round with ease—bolster the child’s self-assurance in this confidence-boosting work about the monumental nature of early accomplishments. Ages 4–8. Agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary. (Mar.)