Title: Ripples | Author: Katie Yamasaki | Illustrator: Katie Yamasaki | Genre: Picture Book | Publisher: Norton Young Readers (2026) | ISBN: 978-1324053941
Publisher’s Book Summary: A young girl and her Aunty set sail on their river raft, basking in each other’s company and in the beauty of the world around them. Along the way, they pass friends and families caring for one another—sharing food, tending wounds, celebrating birthdays, and telling stories—who ultimately join them in cleaning litter and trash from the river. A moving picture book about compassion, community, and caring for our shared world.
My Thoughts: In this lyrical picture book, readers drift along a river while bearing witness to all the ways that people absorb themselves in the beauty that surrounds us. The touching relationship between a child and her aunt is the catalyst that takes us through each scene while we experience a peaceful snapshot of time. Through sparse text and stunning illustrations, the pages absorb our attention and ask us to look at what is happening in nature — how people are behaving, spending time together and respecting the environment. This thoughtful story reads like a poem in a quiet, meandering pace that perfectly matches the setting. Ripples is a unique picture book and one that can be the beginning of multiple conversations with young children. A lovely reading experience.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR
Katie Yamasaki works primarily as a muralist and picture book creator. She has painted more than eighty murals around the world, exploring local stories of identity and social justice. Her picture books include Mural Island, Place Hand Here, Shapes, Lines, and Light, Dad Bakes, and Everything Naomi Loved. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family.
To learn more, visit http://www.katieyamasaki.com.
https://www.instagram.com/katieyamasaki
Giveaway: Readers who join us on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of ten hardcover copies of Ripples by Katie Yamasaki. One grand prize winner will receive a hardcover copy of Ripples, a double-sided Ripples poster, and hardcover copies of five of Yamasaki’s other beloved picture books—Dad Bakes, Place Hand Here, Everything Naomi Loved, Mural Island, and Shapes, Lines, and Light.
Click here for the entry form: https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/ripples-by-katie-yamasaki-book-giveaway. Good luck!
TOUR SCHEDULE
Disclosure: A sincere thank you to the author for a review copy of the book read in partnership with The Children’s Book Review. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.
Stephanie Ward 