WHEN MINO TOOK THE BUS
“Nature is a fickle thing. One wonders what mood she was in, the day she invented chipmunks.” From the start we are informed that upon reaching their seventh week of life, all chipmunks leave their mothers and set off into the wide world. So it is that Mino’s mama gives him a kiss and he boards a bus, taking with him several seeds and fairly humming with excitement. The bus ride is a long one, and Mino has time to befriend everyone who comes aboard, from the driver to the last passenger. After traveling and talking and sharing together, they reach the end of the line. The final two-page wordless spread simply shows that Mino’s seeds, many of which he has given away to his fellow travelers, have sprouted into beautiful sunflowers. Lyrical language conveys how some passengers talk about big and small things: “And when a passenger reaches their stop and leaves, it’s the small things they shared that linger on in everyone’s hearts.” Endearing Mino will suck readers in with his excitement about the world; older readers about to embark on their own journeys, like soon-to-be or recent graduates, will especially relate to him, though so will youngsters. The art is an adorable array of penciled details and soft pastel colors. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
