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The Best Place in the World

Illustrated by Petr Horacek
Hardcover
$16.99 US
10.06"W x 10.94"H x 0.43"D   | 18 oz | 26 per carton
On sale Feb 03, 2021 | 32 Pages | 9781536212853
Age 3-7 years | Preschool - 2
additional book photo
additional book photo
Leaving his beloved meadow behind helps Hare discover what makes it such a special place in this captivating new book from acclaimed author-illustrator Petr Horácek.

Hare’s meadow is a beautiful place, but he can’t tell whether it’s the best place in the world. His friends all say it is. The rabbits love to run and play together in the fields, the birds love to sing to Hare from high up in the trees, and Bear loves the bees and the honey they share with everyone. But Hare still isn’t certain, so he sets off to explore the world and find out for himself. He discovers green fields, gushing rivers, and starlit deserts. His friends would surely love these places, too, but they’re all back in the meadow without him . . . which leads Hare to realize something important. In a gorgeously written and illustrated story, Petr Horácek masters a tender new tone and delivers a thoughtful meditation on what makes a home.
Existential Hare’s sweet character engages readers from the get-go: he sits and looks out at the world with his big feet splayed out in front of him, and his ears stream behind him when he runs. Collage, scribbly lines, and splashes of paint bring a wealth of texture and color to the spreads. Though the sentiments are predictable, the absence of conflict and the warmth shared by Horác?ek’s (The Last Tiger) animal gang offer a bright, upbeat affirmation of all that community offers.
—Publishers Weekly

Horác?ek’s glorious art makes everything within it the best place; rough, luminous paint, soft colored pencil, and layered collage elements create a verdant, resplendent world, while there’s a folksy John Burningham touch to Hare’s comfortable bipedal poses. It’s sufficiently enticing that viewers may think Hare had a pretty easy decision, and they may also consider their own best places.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Petr Horácek grew up in Prague and trained as a graphic designer, illustrator, and painter. He has written and illustrated many books for children, including Animal Opposites, Strawberries Are Red, Who Is the Biggest? and The Greedy Goat. He lives in England.

Photos

additional book photo
additional book photo

About

Leaving his beloved meadow behind helps Hare discover what makes it such a special place in this captivating new book from acclaimed author-illustrator Petr Horácek.

Hare’s meadow is a beautiful place, but he can’t tell whether it’s the best place in the world. His friends all say it is. The rabbits love to run and play together in the fields, the birds love to sing to Hare from high up in the trees, and Bear loves the bees and the honey they share with everyone. But Hare still isn’t certain, so he sets off to explore the world and find out for himself. He discovers green fields, gushing rivers, and starlit deserts. His friends would surely love these places, too, but they’re all back in the meadow without him . . . which leads Hare to realize something important. In a gorgeously written and illustrated story, Petr Horácek masters a tender new tone and delivers a thoughtful meditation on what makes a home.

Praise

Existential Hare’s sweet character engages readers from the get-go: he sits and looks out at the world with his big feet splayed out in front of him, and his ears stream behind him when he runs. Collage, scribbly lines, and splashes of paint bring a wealth of texture and color to the spreads. Though the sentiments are predictable, the absence of conflict and the warmth shared by Horác?ek’s (The Last Tiger) animal gang offer a bright, upbeat affirmation of all that community offers.
—Publishers Weekly

Horác?ek’s glorious art makes everything within it the best place; rough, luminous paint, soft colored pencil, and layered collage elements create a verdant, resplendent world, while there’s a folksy John Burningham touch to Hare’s comfortable bipedal poses. It’s sufficiently enticing that viewers may think Hare had a pretty easy decision, and they may also consider their own best places.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Author

Petr Horácek grew up in Prague and trained as a graphic designer, illustrator, and painter. He has written and illustrated many books for children, including Animal Opposites, Strawberries Are Red, Who Is the Biggest? and The Greedy Goat. He lives in England.