My Island by Stéphanie Demasse-Pottier, illustrated by Seng Soun Ratanavanh

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My Island  
by Stéphanie Demasse-Pottier
illustrated by Seng Soun Ratanavanh
My Island reads like a poem, flowing like the red stitches that trail through the endpapers, connecting elements of the story. The narrator begins by telling readers that she lives on an island that has no name. This is an island with thousands of birds, where flowers are always blooming. There are other animals too, and sometimes they picnic on plastic plates. The narrator has a house, too, with, "flowers, colorful plates, a hanging coffeemaker, strange bric-a-brac," and endless things to do there.
In her house, on her island, there is no door and all are welcome, "if you know how to sing" and you "know how to share," and you, "know how to dream." The final pages reveal the narrator, on her stomach, peering inside a dollhouse. The words and the illustrations of My Island perfectly capture a child's imagination, one that can encompass the world - and beyond - and shrink to the size of a snail or smaller. 

 Also illustrated by Seng Soun Ratanavanh:
Time for Bed, Miyuki





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