In a landscape of rolling hills cloaked in a gentle haze, Pandora lives off civilization's debris. She's a lonely fox who has built herself a house atop a mound of old furniture, discarded toys, and other castoffs, all drawn in mesmerizing detail. Like the solitary hero of Marianne Dubuc's The Lion and the Bird, she's taken by surprise when a delicate bird falls out of the sky and into her care. A spread shows her fast asleep on the floor next to the bird's makeshift nest in a cardboard box, her brushy tail curled protectively over it. Pandora nurses the bird back to health—it brings her twigs and flowers, "gifts from faraway lands"—but one day it doesn't return, and she's bereft. While she sleeps, something miraculous happens. Sprouting into life, the bird's nest grows into an otherworldly garden, covering her room and her house with flowers and foliage—a reflection, perhaps, of the love that has grown in her heart. The bird's return is another miracle. As an artist, Turnbull (The Sea Tiger) has two crucial gifts: the power of imagination and the ability to make emotions visible. Ages 4–7. (Apr.)

PreS-Gr 1—Pandora, an anthropomorphic fox, finds slivers of beauty in a wasteland of discarded objects. From piles of detritus, she ferrets out treasures—a teddy bear, a van Gogh painting—repairs broken objects, and fills her house, a rickety cottage on stilts, with them. Her solitary existence is interrupted when an injured bird drops from the sky. Pandora nurses the bird, and as he becomes stronger, he flies off on brief trips, coming back with presents of flowers, leaves, and twigs. When the bird fails to return one day, a bereft Pandora is alone again—but everything is about to change. Through inspired composition and a varying palette (the brightness of the fox's cozy home contrasts with the beige of the eerie landscape), this simple tale captures the joy of friendship and the anguish of loneliness. The rich, soft watercolor and colored pencil artwork tempers the harsh setting and has a classic storybook feel. The elegant, spare prose allows the visuals to take center stage and will leave readers asking questions about the origins of this strange, seemingly postapocalyptic world. Though she may have inherited a dreary world, Pandora's attempts to revitalize it will inspire readers who may be discouraged with humankind's negative effect on the planet. VERDICT Bound to generate discussion among adults and children alike, this quietly stirring offering can be read on multiple levels: as a love letter to friendship, a warning against careless treatment of the environment, or as a testament to the power of hope. Best shared one-on-one.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal