This is a simply beautiful picture book about two men - one who travels the sea, and one with his feet firmly planted on the ground - their differences and similarities, and the few moments that their lives intertwine. The authors artwork is spectacular, and practically tells the story on its own. I particularly liked the one illustration where the clouds form the shape of a tree and a bird to represent the two characters. Just WONDERFUL!

This book's contemplative nature and smoky color palette make for a beautifully philosophical story. I suspect that it may appeal more to adults than to children for those reasons.

I love utilizing books like this in my homeschool rotation! It shows how people can be vastly different but still enjoy and long for the same things. I feel it really helps my kids read deeper into stories than just what the words say. Art work is a plus too!

"Here and There" offers a valuable experience in appreciating, not just different lifestyles, but different dispositions that embrace the advantages and drawbacks of disparate choices.

Engaging illustrations and parallel text will draw in readers young and old. The pictures are full of detail despite their simple style. The text, too, offers nuggets of interest despite their straightforward language.

"Here and There" is not optimal for large-group storytime but ideal for lap-sit and enriching discussion between readers. It also would make a great lead-in to envisioning projects of travel or adventure for kids.

Wow wow wow. This was SO great. I can't believe it's the authors debut picture book. The illustrations were great, the story beautiful, the twist in the end was exquisite. 10/10. No doubt. I want to own this. This was LOVELY. Thea Lu - I'll be keeping my eye on you.

I was hooked from the start with Effie’s near death experience. It lead her to see ghosts which changed her life for the better. Her relationship with her Grandma who had dementia was so respectful and heartwarming. I really enjoyed getting to know Effie as a mother, friend and wife.

Two lonely-seeming men – a cafe owner who has never left his home town, and a sailor who has only the boat's cabin walls and the engine to talk to – share these pages. One of course has people visit him, and he serves them and gets to talk to them. The other gets to land almost where he wants, and then gets to chat and spend time with people there, before moving on. Two very different characters, of course, but what if – you know, in amongst the world's huge web of connections, and chance, and suchlike – what if they might actually end up meeting?

This isn't as impactful in giving of its moral as some books – is it showing that for all our differences we are all alike? Is it the virtues of friendship and conversation that it's flagging up? But this is still a enjoyable read, principally through the well-crafted artwork. The sparse text alternates, as the cafe owner has the left-hand pages, and the sailor the right, but the distinctive colours prove who we're concentrating on at all beats of the story, and the end result is pretty pleasant indeed.

The book is fantastic. A wonderful experience.
It demonstrates the lives of the characters, who at first seem so different to us, until they begin to relate and connect.
And all the words and feelings that touch us are reflected through the illustrations. Therefore, this is a book to see and listen to, to connect with others and understand them.

This was a touching and thoughtful book about different kinds of lives and the connections we can make with each other.

Dan has always lived in the same place and enjoys meeting the different people who visit his cafe. Aki has never lived in the same place.and enjoys meeting different people on his travels as a sailor. Dan and Aki live very different lives but love so many of the same things.

The illustrations in this book are amazing. I love the colours and detail that the author has used and the way that the text for Dan mirrors that used for Aki is really clever.

Sweet story for travelers, near and far. I liked the use of color for juxtaposition, and the layout of the artwork on the pages. The physical division of the characters in the beginning and then coming together at the end really emphasizes their storylines. Beautiful book that I will add to my collection!

This book was great to read to my daughter! I loved being able to see/feel the connection that came in the book. The colors also looked really great together and created beautiful scenes of two lives.

This book shows the lifestyles of a homebody and a traveler and the shared need for community. I appreciated the found community aspect of the story as well as the neutrality in not valuing one lifestyle over the other. I could see this book being a good option for a storytime theme especially during the summer when some children may be traveling and others staying home.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed these beautiful pictures. The colors are calming and peaceful, very aesthetically pleasing. I did not feel connected to the message of the book.

This cute book tells the tale of Dan and Aki who lived completely different lives. One in a small cafe that stays the same and one that is a sailor and travels.

They have different lives they both love but also both feel lonely sometimes.

A sweet story to read to kids about differences and needing people. I would read this in a story time about opposites or friends.

I got this on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

This was a really cute picture book, and I really loved the way the two storylines are put in contrast to each other! LOVED when they came together and overlapped, but wish maybe the overlap lasted a tad bit longer (to REALLY put pressure on the overlap). I also like how this shows that some people can be more homebodies and some are more travelers and it is nothing wrong with either!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #HereAndThere. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This is a beautifully illustrated children's book about two people - a homebody and a traveller. On the surface, they seem like very different people, but they both long for the same thing - connection with others and friendship. Sweet story for kids about the different types of people they may encounter and how all types of people are interesting in their own way.

This is a philosophical little book about those who choose to stay at home, and those who choose to travel far away. And how both may have more in common than we (and they) think.

I know there are people who will find this book appealing, but one or two elements aside, there was not much there that really spoke to me. And I found that the switching back and forth between Dan and Aki's lives made it difficult for me to develop an emotional bond with either of the main characters.

But it is a nice idea and I appreciated the origin story indicated in the dedication.

Thanks for the ARC! This is the story about two kids in different way of life: Dan and Aki.

Dan was a cafe owner, meanwhile Aki was a sailor. Dan life never moving from town to town but Aki is a nomadic gull. But the two of them likes their life as it never lacks the color of life.

Everyday Dan will listen everything from people that reach his cafe. On the other side, Aki will shared every story to people he meet when he arrived in a port.

Beautiful short story about the life of two different people who both long for the sense of belonging.