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Review: Josephine

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By Chloé Alméras
Minneapolis, MN: Gecko Press, 2026. Gecko Press.

Orginally published in France, Josephine tells the story of a giraffe and the various sights and seasons she experiences. With simple illustrations, we see Josephine encountering several different animals, her looking for a snack, playing in the clouds and water, and being filled with wonder at everything around her. With only a line per page and not much plot, this book still conveys how it is amazing to appreciate the world we live in.

I think this board book is genius. The illustrations follow a pattern where elements of the left picture are inverted to create the right picture. For example, one page show Josephine surrounded by yellow flowers—represented by yellow dots—and the next page shows the yellow dots being used for stars in the sky. As well, snow becomes bubbles, leaves become flowers, and a mountain becomes small bumps in the grass. In addition to my appreciation, my four-month-old will not stop staring at the illustrations. The plentiful amount of white space on a page alongside the bright depiction of Josephine is easy for her to look at. Overall, a very cute book to be adored by little ones and grownups alike.
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