★ 03/30/2020
Collaborators Lê and Santat (Drawn Together) mix a tale about sibling rivalry with a classic fantasy quest. Spare text by Lê along with Santat’s panel artwork tell the story of Iris, whose small, special pleasure is pushing the button in her building’s elevator. One awful day, her task is appropriated, without warning, by her baby brother. Her parents and sibling beam with pride; Iris scowls. After an elevator repairman’s visit tackles the out-of-service elevator next door, Iris retrieves the discarded button panel. “I wish I could be anywhere but here,” she fumes. She tapes it to the wall next to her closet, and presses: “Ding!” Light breaks across her face as the closet door opens; her amazement presages wonders that readers can’t yet see. Iris’s first foray into a new world ends quickly, but she soon gets another chance, and a dazzling adventure unfolds—until an unexpected but very familiar voice brings her back. Santat’s comedic versatility and theatrical use of light give the story cinematic momentum, while Lê’s insight into Iris’s conflicting emotions adds depth and warmth to the tale. Journeys to other worlds, Iris discovers, mean little without the warmth of her own. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Stephen Barbara, Inkwell Management. Illustrator’s agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (May)
Praise for Lift:
An ALA Notable Book A Summer 2020 Kids' Indie Next List
PW Best Books of the Summer
IndieBound Children's BestsellerThe Boston Globe Best Books of 2020
"This second collaboration by the award-winning team of Lê and Santat touches that sweet spot between children's 'anywhere but here' longings and the everyday joys and heartaches of sibling rivalry."—The New York Times
* "Styled like a graphic novel's, the illustrations focus on Iris' feelings as she imagines a new elevator button, one that she can control, with the magical ability to transport her to other worlds. Frustration, invention, escape, wonder — all move across the pages with immediacy. Like Sendak's Max, Iris uses anger to lift her away from the real world into jungles and outer space. And she returns to her room changed. Breaking the bounds of a traditional picture book, Iris' creative growth elevates us all."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Beautiful art enhances an uplifting story that encourages readers to share secret wonders with one another — even annoying kid siblings."—School Library Journal, starred review
* "The story is beautifully told through Santat's expressive characters and dynamic panels of sequential art..... [It's] an entirely immersive experience that children will reach for, again and again, like their own magic button."—Booklist, starred review
* "An excellent choice for individual consumption or as a read-aloud, this story is sure to get creative juices flowing."—School Library Connection, starred review
* "Santat's comedic versatility and theatrical use of light give the story cinematic momentum, while Lê's insight into Iris's conflicting emotions adds depth and warmth to the tale."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Uplifting."—The Horn Book
"A magic elevator button brings two siblings together in this uplifting picture book reminiscent of a graphic novel."—Shelf Awareness
"Magic happens here, through a few words and vibrant illustrations that capture emotions common to kids finding their place in a family and a community."—Common Sense Media
"The story itself makes a kid-appealing metaphor about leaving the familiarities of baby and toddlerhood behind for new, exciting adventures."—BCCB
★ 04/01/2020
Gr 1–3—Young Iris loves elevators. She especially loves when her parents let her push the button. However, her relationship to elevators—and to her little brother—changes when he starts pushing the buttons. How rude! In an act of rebellion, Iris pushes all the buttons and breaks the elevator. When she finds the busted button panel in the garbage, she tapes it up near her closet to create an imaginary elevator of her very own. What wondrous places will it take her? All the text is speech bubbles and narration from Iris's point of view. Santat's illustrations carry the emotional heart of the story. The characters have expressive features—their eyes show frustration, wonder, and curiosity. Square panels are framed with thick black lines that convey the safe, enclosed feeling Iris has when she's inside an elevator. Yet when the elevator takes her to a jungle or into outer space, the thick frames melt away, leaving readers with awe-inspiring, full-bleed panels. The panoramic sights make Iris's eyes go wide with amazement—and older readers may be stunned, too. In the end, Iris decides to share the fabulous magical elevator with her brother after all. VERDICT Beautiful art enhances an uplifting story that encourages readers to share secret wonders with one another—even annoying kid siblings.—Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill Public Library, MA
★ 2020-02-09
Bridging the gap between picture book and graphic novel, this charmer catapults a simple storyline of sibling jealousy into outer space.
Iris, the older of two small children, always has the job of pushing the button on the elevator. “Up or down, our floor or the lobby, I always get to push the button.” One day, her toddler sibling reaches out and pushes the button before she can. Their parents’ joy over the smaller child’s new trick is pure betrayal to Iris. The baby has stolen her job, just like her stuffed tiger. Lê and Santat, creators of Asian/Pacific Award–winner Drawn Together (2018), have produced another inspired storyline fueled by emotions that come alive with magnetic illustrations. Dark frames around each scene keep the focus on Iris, a black-haired girl with expressive eyes that pierce through her messy bangs. (The whole family has black hair and pale skin.) Styled like a graphic novel’s, the illustrations focus on Iris’ feelings as she imagines a new elevator button, one that she can control, with the magical ability to transport her to other worlds. Frustration, invention, escape, wonder—all move across the pages with immediacy. Like Sendak’s Max, Iris uses anger to lift her away from the real world into jungles and outer space. And she returns to her room changed.
Breaking the bounds of a traditional picture book, Iris’ creative growth elevates us all. (Picture book. 4-8)
