4 out of 4 stars
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What do you get when you combine poetry and beautiful artwork, add a dash of philosophy, and mix them all together in a children's book? If you do it just right you'll get Clio's Colorful Quest by Aloubell.
Clio's Colorful Quest is a stunning children's picture book featuring an adorable chibi-esque girl named Clio. She's trying to find something special: herself! Clio's quest is a journey of self-discovery, and it's jaw-droppingly gorgeous to look at. She ponders what life is about and whether she should stay home where it's cozy or explore the world, yet it's all written in a way that's easy for anyone to understand. The Amazon page recommends the book for children in first or second grade, but I can see younger children enjoying it as well.
Clio's story is told with rhymes, but I didn't see any awkward rhymes or grammatical errors. The words flow as perfectly as Clio's ever-changing hair, and the journey is short enough to hold a child's attention yet long enough to feature lots of magnificent art while telling a poignant short story.
In case you haven't noticed, I really love the art in Clio's Colorful Quest. It's vibrant, it uses unique patterns, and every full-color page of art would look amazing hanging on my wall. My favorite image shows Clio holding a giant dandelion like she's a powerful wizard, but there are also stunning rainbows, exquisite bubbles, and breathtaking stars.
It's incredibly rare for a children's picture book to nail both the story and the art, but Clio's Colorful Quest does an exceptional job with both. The biggest surprise of all was that one person did both: a woman named Aloubell. This appears to be her first book, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for her future work! My rating of the book is 4 out of 4 stars. Anyone who loves sublime artwork, enjoys children's books that explore topics that are a bit deeper than normal, or has children that want to lose themselves in the pages of a magical world should definitely check it out.
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Clio's Colorful Quest
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