Puffin has acquired the debut picture book from author-illustrator Al Rodin after a hotly-contested seven-way auction. The illustrations are in a unique and interesting to look at. I love the underground cross section that shows you the caves and tunnels, you see bats hanging upside down reading, bees enjoying a glass of something, and in my favourite cave, some fox-like creatures are sprawled on the floor doing some drawing! Little Echo (represented in a illustration as a mouse) is a tiny and timid creature that lives in a large cave. It is too afraid to show itself and would only echo behind any sounds made by other creatures living in the cave. One day, a little boy name Max came into the cave in seeking treasure. Little Echo could not help but follow him and when he got into danger, Little Echo finally develops some courage to say its own words and thus, save Max. They became good friends as such! Interesting way to show little kids how echoes work. And a good way to talk about gaining confidence and making friends. The illustrations were interesting (the cross section of the caves was my favourite!)

I enjoyed the short story about Little Echo and her bravery. But I know that I could not read this book with my little one because of the illustrations. Don’t get me wrong, I find the portrayal of Little Echo very accurate. The super big ears are adorable! But the surroundings and dangers of the cave with the dark colours are frightening. And as a parent of a very sensitive and imaginative child, I just know that we would not make it through the book without a tear. Little Echo lives alone in a cave. Shy, she hides away, echoing the noises around her. But Little Echo isn't just shy - she's lonely. And when Max comes to the cave one day, in search of treasure, Little Echo starts to discover that maybe she has a voice of her own... A stunning picture book celebrating friendship, courage and finding your own voice. Read more Details It has richly textured pictures, with layered brushstrokes of meadow and thunderstorm, and animals conjured in a few fine lines. The Times Best Books for Children 2023We can all identify with Little Echo tiring of her assigned role, and looking for someone to help her develop her "fun" muscles. I recommend this picture book as a bedtime story, and as a gift for anyone young or old who reminds the reader of either or both characters! Magical! They decided to join up and search together for the treasure, when Max surely found one - Little Echo - treasure of treasures and Echo without searching found her treasure in Max. Let's talk about how vivid and wonderful the illustrations are. They are so cute and colorful that they will catch one's eye. It also introduces children to what an echo is and how it works. in a wonderfully imaginative way.

Little Echo lives her life hidden away in the shadows of a cave. The bright yellow creature longs to join the cave’s other inhabitants as they frolic and play, but her terrible timidity keeps her silent and watchful. When someone loud, bold and adventurous stumbles into her cave on a quest for treasure, Little Echo has a chance to find more than just her voice—she might also find a friend. From a stunning new author-illustrator comes a debut picture book celebrating friendship, courage and finding your own voice. What a cute book that sets about to explain to small children what is an echo and how it works. Now obviously there is no such thing as a Little Echo, but to small children it is a super cute way to introduce them to echoes and when they get older they will learn what really causes those repeated sounds, but for now this is charming. Thank you Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books and Netgalley for blessing me with this eARC in exchange for a honest review.I have never seen an Echo but through Al Rodin’s masterly rendition he created the most endearing vision of sounds of nature and the world reached from a confined cave. The arrival of Max searching for treasure, almost lost his life and it was little Echo who saved Max from a hungry bear. Andrea MacDonald, Editorial Director at Puffin Picture Books, bought world rights for Little Echo, the story of a lonelyecho who lives in a cave, from Cecilia de la Campa, head of global licensing at Writer's House, on behalf of Lindsay Auld, Rodin's agent. Part of a two-book deal, Little Echo will publish in April 2021.