Miles ahead

The title of this all-dialogue picture book mystery from Lê (Real to Me) and Bontigao (Kailani's Gift) playfully refers to both a road trip that the focal family's preparing to undertake and their white terrier, Miles, who cleverly lends assistance when things go awry. As the relations bustle to get out the door, much of the action focuses on a child who has crammed a backpack with objects from an extensive packing list ("Origami paper? Lucky penny? More books?"). But as everyone files into the car, no one can remember where they left the wrapped present for the infant they're heading to meet. Retracing their steps across a horizontal cutaway doesn't yield the gift, but with the help of the family's savvy pooch, it does uncover treasured mementos from the children's own early days: a beloved baby blanket, bath-time book, bunny stuffie, and booties. The child takes matters in hand, compiling the objects and indicating that together, they form a gift that's just as suitable as the "latest fancy baby gadget" procured for the occasion. Exuberant slice-of-life illustrations, reassuring family-sitcom rapport, and a clever visual punch line turn the quandary into a celebration of memory and resourcefulness. The family is portrayed with brown skin and dark hair. Ages 3--7. Author's agent: Stephen Barbara, InkWell Management. Illustrator's agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary. (Apr.)

A family gets ready to hit the road to celebrate a new member's arrival. "ROAD TRIP!!!" thunders a child filling a backpack in preparation for a car trip to meet a new cousin. The other road trippers include the kid's mom and dad and what appear to be a teenage sibling ("Hey, genius: did you remember to pack underwear and socks?") and a grandparent, all of whom present East Asian. Also accompanying them is the titular Miles, a white terrier whose barks and "Mwroofs," along with the family's dialogue and the odd noise, are the story's only text. Everyone is seat-belted into the car when…"Wait, you remembered the present, right?" "I thought YOU had the gift." The family's scramble to locate the present inside the house leads to diversions. The kid finds a beloved baby blanket; the teenager finds a favorite old stuffie. These discoveries inspire shared reminiscences, which, with an assist from Miles, spark the kid's brainstorm: What's a more meaningful baby gift than these long-treasured family keepsakes? Lê's sweet tale of a loving family that problem-solves together reads like an extended comic strip. Bontigao's clean-lined digital panel work contains fun-to-spot rewards, among them old photos of the siblings and the answer to the book's big question: What happened to the original baby gift? An encouraging story starring a family whose heart and values are in the right place.(Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.