When you take a step

Walking becomes an entry point into deliberate living in this meditative picture book. With each step, "You begin a journey./ You find your balance.// You greet the world, wide and full," read opening lines. In accompanying grayscale digital illustrations, pops of color appear across magenta footwear that acts as a visual through line. Mary-janes "crunch fall leaves" and high tops "share a path," while other styles are featured in both urban and rural environments. Some scenes have a more social dimension, as in one picturing a hiker surrounded by the shadows of those who have walked before (including a dinosaur). Though the concept is simple--even a single step can empower--it uplifts via Deeney Murguia's polished execution. Ages up to 8. (Sept.)

A sleepy yet poignant pink highlighting characters' footwear is the sole pigment in this ode to literal and figurative steps. Illustrations of nameless characters who are diverse in terms of race and ability are joined by sparse text. The opening question "What happens when you take a step?" is turned over carefully, like a precious stone. Poetic declarations like "You greet the world, wide and full" answer the query. A child with curly hair and skin the color of the white page opens a door from an empty room to a vague outdoor landscape. Other scenes include children observing nature, visiting a museum, and attending a rally ("You move toward hope, and you make the world better…"). Though the message of the power of a single step is a good one, it's somewhat ambiguous, and some readers may be lost or put off by the negative space and lack of colors. Caregivers or educators may want to offer guidance or prompt readers to think about the text. While people using wheelchairs, rolling walkers, and crutches are depicted, they are limited to ensemble scenes and to a spread with close-ups of different feet rather than on pages portraying individual children. Those who enjoyed Murguia's previous works, Henry Cole's black-and-white Spot & Dot (2019) or Spot, the Cat (2016), or Cori Doerrfeld's social emotional books will appreciate these gently crafted, spot colored pages. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Encouraging and curious. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.