Meet best friends, Nelli and Worthi. While Worthi is not the brightest plant out there (though do follow their advice about staying hydrated), they are terribly sweet and a loyal friend who is willing to go on an adventure to help Nelli find her purpose in Tiny Troubles: Nelli’s Purpose.
Sophie Diao’s characters, two young plants, are doing what plants do (enjoying the day, soaking up some sun) when Nelli asks if Worthi knows what a purpose is. The explanation is done as best as they can throughout the book, but maybe we never quite get the full picture. However, if you pay attention, you will see it by the actions that are being taken, and less from the words themselves. Perhaps, the best part of things is the fact that these friends are willing to keep trying by going out and asking questions and meeting new people (or bees, stink bugs, and frogs). Their journey is simple (yet, far from simplistic) and fairly amusing. There are several ins and outs, along with a straightforwardness to the theme. I like that there are the levels of “straight forward story” (on an adventure) but also the idea of having a purpose.
The artwork, also by Diao, is brightly colorful, with minimal details but not lacking.They are nice to read as well as the story. I almost wish this was a wordless book, but the text is also terribly fun. They are a nice combination and compliment each other well.
Read via an online reader copy, the book is currently (or soon) out in late April 2024.