18 Feb Review: Next Door
Next Door
by Deborah Kerbel; illustrated by Isaac Liang
Kids Can Press, 2023
ISBN: 9781525306587 (hardcover)
$21.83 CAD (hardcover)
32 pages
Ages: 3 to 7 years old
Review by Elisabeth de Grandpré
In this mostly wordless picture book, the reader follows a Deaf boy exploring his neighbourhood with his mother and meeting their new neighbours. Isaac Liang’s illustrations guide us through what the boy sees walking through their world and how he communicates using American Sign Language (ASL) with his mother. There is a written translation in comic-like blocks to translate the ASL. The images create a visceral reaction in the reader and allow us to to shift focus along with the boy. It was engaging. The story then shifts to meeting the new Arabic neighbours. The boy and the Arabic girl communicate without language and can play together. This book would suit a public library or personal collection. While it wouldn’t suit story-time, its mostly wordless format makes it more accessible for non-readers. I like this diverse story and how it allows a reader to either see themselves or see outside of their own experience.