My Heart Is a Compass

My Heart is a Compass is a beautiful book in every way. In it, a young girl goes on an imaginative quest to discover something that's never been found before to share with her classmates for show-and-tell. Although she feels empty-handed when the day arrives, we discover along with her that in sharing her journey she has truly found something unique, and that her story about her trailblazing adventures IS the actual discovery she was seeking. My (almost) 7-year daughter is an avid reader - we are working on reading comprehension now - and the interplay between the descriptive words of this sweet story and the delightfully vibrant, intricate, and creative images depicting her quest in such vivid detail, allow young readers (and adults!) to immerse themselves in Rose’s journey. In general, my daughter is quick to turn a page and read the words without absorbing visuals, but I was so thrilled to see her linger on each page, identifying each landmark on Rose’s maps and plotting her own path. My husband and I tend to gravitate to stories with characters of color whenever possible, particularly when the story has no bearing on the color of their skin — it’s subtle but important, and this author’s books do just that. Her drawings are inclusive and gorgeously rendered with thought and care in every line drawn on the page. This book is one we will cherish and plan to give as gifts to all our friends with children (I think it’s ideal for ages 4-8). We also own Ursa’s Light by this same author/illustrator, which is another beautiful story about a young (girl) bear who learns to soar; and Rosie & Crayon, which depicts love and loss, grief and renewal through a young girl’s eyes. The message of her books is always uplifting, inspirational, empowering, and heartfelt. I look forward to discovering much more of her work!