Pablo

Shhh! Pablo is asleep. This is his last night inside the shell. Tomorrow he’ll come out. But he’s a little shy so starts with a very little hole... Tap tap! Pablo is fresh and funny story about stepping out on your own into a bright new world. With the little chick Pablo we discover up and down, forward and back, shapes, the noises and smells of the outside, and take a first flight. It’s not scary at all! Especially not if you keep a little piece of home with you, in case you need it later.

• Little chick Pablo discovers his world, takes his first bold steps —and maybe he will fly!
• All the emotions of new experiences—apprehension, shyness, wonder, freedom, the safety of home
• Includes easy concepts of shapes, directions and the five senses in a bright and simple story

“"Playing it safe, a chick decides to hatch bit by bit. With stark black images--mainly a black egg in center stage--set against a white background, Belgian author/illustrator Rascal tells the story of Pablo, the chick, as he hatches. As the story opens, Pablo is spending his last night in his shell. When morning comes, Pablo must gather his strength for the task ahead, and what better way than with a small croissant and a hot chocolate? The tone is set: Though the images may be black and white, Pablo is no black-and-white character. There is an endearing complexity to this cute little chick. 'A little bit scared' yet a little curious, 'Pablo starts with a little tiny hole.' One eye contemplates the world outside, then two. Bit by bit, he makes a hole for each ear, his beak, and then his legs. Now Pablo can see, hear, smell, and wander around. With an eighth and ninth hole his wings are freed, and he flies. 'He's not scared now!' Tempering bravery with caution, after emerging, Pablo saves a small piece of his shell, just in case. And what a good thing he does, as the last illustration shows a yellow chick sheltering from the rain under his shell/umbrella. Indeed, bravery is not a one-dimensional trait. Delightful--will surely bring smiles to readers' faces."”

"Though the images may be black and white, Pablo is no black-and-white character. There is an endearing complexity to this cute little chick... Delightful—will surely bring smiles to readers’ faces."

Starred review

"I loved this cute book!...The illustrations are very minimalist with simple black and white art, until the last page when we get to see Pablo’s fluffy yellow feathers. I love the art style! I think it’s very effective."

Starred review

"Bold, simple, stylized art plays with perception, as the crisp black and white Pablo as an egg, yields a soft, fuzzy yellow Pablo as a hatched chick. I like also how the senses come in to play as he hatches – there are onomatopoeia for the first sounds he hears. A clever book."

"This excellent picture book is simplicity itself but it covers a whole lot of ground."

"Rascal has created a simple book that offers more than what a readers sees at face value."

"Kids will love turning the book sideways and upside down to use their imaginations and discover what’s there. When adorable Pablo finally emerges from his shell, the pop of yellow is sure to bring “Awww!”s and requests to read the book again."

"Using a palette of mainly black and white, Rascal uses a sweet and simple story to explore themes of uncertainty and new experiences, with some subtle learning about shapes, direction and senses thrown in too."

"It is Rascal’s clever illustrations with their simple layers that really help the chick to capture the young reader’s heart. Even the endpapers are a visual delight."

Rascal is a leading Belgian illustrator and author of children’s books. Enrolled by his parents in art school at the age of 12, he has since published over 100 children’s books and received international awards.

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