Are We There Yet?

by Sven Völker

Overview

New York Times award winning author/illustrator Sven Völker once again brings his trademark graphic imagery to this gorgeous introduction to philosophical ideas for even the youngest of readers.

Bear wakes up after his long winter’s sleep and joins his friend, Butterfly, on a journey. 'Where are we going?' asks bear. 'All journeys have secret destinations', says Butterfly. As they travel through forest, over hill and across a great river, Butterfly offers her wisdom about hardships, facing one’s fears and living in the moment. Bear’s natural impatience gradually softens into acceptance of the world around him. As the seasons change, the friends find themselves once more in front of Bear’s cave. Landscapes look different with different eyes and the end of one journey is the beginning of another.

This is a heartwarming book about friendship and about circles and cycles of life and being. It is a sweet and calming bedtime story that introduces Buddhist philosophies and values to young readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781800660373
Publisher:	Cicada Books
Publication date:	07/04/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.27(w) x 11.02(h) x (d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Sven Volker is a Berlin-based author/illustrator and a professor in graphic design. His picture book A Million Dots was a New York Times ‘Best Illustrated Children’s Book’ winner in 2019.

Editorial Reviews

05/15/2023

Working in a striking poster style, Völker (A Million Dots) sends a bear on a long journey, invited by a butterfly with an unknown destination: “The journey itself is the reward,” she intones. The bear, a hulking black form with expressive eyes, asks many questions (“Are you sure we’re walking in the right direction?”), to which the butterfly, whose delicate wings glow with faint blue-green light, gives riddle-like answers (“Sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself”). Her insight and encouragement inspire undreamed-of feats of strength from the bear, including crossing a raging river. Shape-based landscapes and stippled textures make up graphical images, while text provides sensory detail (“The forest floor felt cool and wet beneath his great paws”) and dialogue supplies humor and warmth. When the two reach a mountain’s summit and Bear enjoys the view, Butterfly asks, “Would you like this to be our destination?” He replies, “I suppose we could go a bit further.” It’s not the goal that matters but what one experiences along the way, suggests this wisdom-oriented tale that ends with another aphorism: “The end of one journey is the beginning of another.” Ages 3–7. (July)

Publishers Weekly

A 2024 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

"A sensitive script, touches of humor, and a captivating design combine for an excursion readers will want to repeat." - Kirkus Starred Review

"It’s not the goal that matters but what one experiences along the way, suggests this wisdom-oriented tale that ends with another aphorism: “The end of one journey is the beginning of another." - Publishers Weekly

"Are We There Yet? is unreservedly recommended as a very special addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections for children ages 3-7." - Midwest Book Review

"Völker’s skill as a graphic designer shines through these sleek, minimalist illustrations: mountains and trees appear as striking sequences of triangles, and the changing of seasons is implied by a shift from red and orange dots to white stars sprinkled across the page. Bear’s eyes communicate every ounce of his curiosity, fear, hope, and exhaustion along the way." - The Horn Book

"The story is unexpectedly deeply philosophical as a bear befriends a butterfly and travels with it through nature." - YA Books Central

From the Publisher

★ 2023-04-12
A bear and a butterfly embark on a transformational journey.

In A Million Dots (2019), German graphic designer Völker explored exponential growth. Here, he presents visual and verbal contrasts for viewers to ponder. Bear is an immense, solid black form, whereas Butterfly is a slight, airy creature with green, blue, and yellow gossamer wings. Butterfly invites Bear to accompany her on a trip. Bear is initially attuned to practical matters—food, rest, and destination. The philosophical, Yoda-esque insect explains, “The journey itself is the reward.” Compositions incorporate a pleasing balance of flat colors and stylized images (trees shaped like pyramids, falling leaves as ovals) and textured objects (a tan cave speckled with black dots). As the conversation continues, Bear finds a rhythm as he climbs the mountain, enjoys the magnificent view, and summons the courage to swim across a rushing river. Butterfly’s patience and encouragement and Bear’s playfulness contribute much to the expedition’s quality, their mutual vulnerability allowing them to connect and care for one another. One enjoyable spread depicts Bear snacking on berries while Butterfly sips nectar from some flowers. She remarks, “And then you’ll poo out the seeds and more flowers will grow. We’re part of a great big circle.” Observant children will notice the rounded sun behind them, the moon on the next page, and their return to their point of origin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sensitive script, touches of humor, and a captivating design combine for an excursion readers will want to repeat. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews