The Seekers

by Hari & Deepti

Overview

A small band of brave adventurers journey to save their village in this stunning debut picture book from papercut artists Hari & Deepti. Perfect for fans of Aaron Becker's Journey.

Mio and Nao live in the valley of Krum, above a great river that provides everything they need to survive. As children, their grandfather told tales of the Silver Fox and Fire Wolf, tales everyone else believed were only legends—everyone, that is, but Mio.

When the life-giving river that flows through their village is mysteriously threatened, Mio and Nao set out beyond their valley to find out what has gone wrong. The farther they get from home, they find lifeless trees and skies filled with smoke. The other villagers grow weary of their mission until they are confronted with their childhood legends come to vivid life and have to risk everything to save their home.

Depicted through intricate cut-paper art, this memorable tale will remind readers of the importance of home while still striving to discover the world around you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524701529
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	08/06/2019
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	11.20(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	660L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Hari & Deepti are a husband-and-wife artist duo based in Mumbai. Their work has been featured on books covers, and The Seekers is their first picture book. Visit them at harianddeepti.com or on Instagram at @harianddeepti.

Editorial Reviews

"[B]old and beautiful illustrations. Mostly silhouettes against a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, they are full of movement and pattern, the roots and branches of trees reinforcing the sense of a web of life."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2019-04-28
According to legend, the fictional valley of Krum is guarded by the Silver Fox and the Fire Wolf, the spirits of ice and fire respectively.

The villagers of Krum lead a pleasant if simple life, foraging for crown-shell snails for their food by day and at night returning to their homes among the treetops. Mio and Nao are (adult) siblings who live atop the tallest tree, and although they are very different from each other, they are the best foragers in Krum. One day, Nao finds a magic jewel inside one of the shells, and she decides to wear it around her neck. However, this act seems to change the world: The sky darkens, the river runs more slowly, and there are increasingly fewer snails to gather—until there are none left. Led by Mio's wisdom and Nao's bravery, the villagers of Krum go on a quest to restore balance to their land. Hari and Deepti's narrative reads like a folktale. Although the storyline isn't particularly original, the tale highlights the importance of environmental awareness and sensitivity and cautions against greed. The white type against a black background strikingly sets off the bold and beautiful illustrations. Mostly silhouettes against a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, they are full of movement and pattern, the roots and branches of trees reinforcing the sense of a web of life.

The significant subtext and captivating illustrations make this original tale a great teaching tool for educators and librarians. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews