I read a book the other day (I know, what a shock). It was an odd shape, lots of white, and then some gray and browns for the cover. And it would go on to tell me that, “A capybara is not a mouse, or a beaver, or a bear, and has all sorts of surprising traits you will soon discover.”
You see that book was I Am a Capybara by Michaela Fabbri. It is a picture book that is told from the point of view of the capybara. They tell you all sorts of fun facts about themselves (as a capybara and as an individual being) and they tell you things about their friends, and how one can try new things, meet new people and ways to find family, friendship, and community. It shows how you can get comfort from others and yourself while you are alone, but still together. We learn that everyone, and every capybara, is different. This one like opera, poetry and dressing as a whale. But they also like being in a cuddle puddle of other capybaras. This book is just a nice book about being you.
And Fabbri illustrates this charming tale with equally charming illustrations. They are simple, but far from simplistic. Maybe they are not detailed, but they are expressive and have a sharp cozy to them. They can be considered sophisticated, but I would not say pretentious. I feel they are a “like them” or “not like them” with little in between. As is the overall package.
In many ways, I feel this is more for the adult who enjoys an art story, but the right kid (at least five and up) would enjoy as well.
