Harriet’s Reflections – Perfect Picture Book Friday

First published in French in 2021, Eerdman’s has brought this engaging translation to the U.S. with the help of Marion Kadi (author/illustrator) and Abram Kaplan. It’s a pleasure to welcome this book that begins like a folktale and morphs into modern day story with a subtle social and emotional theme.

Once upon a time there was an old lion. He had lived a good life, hunting, eating, and sleeping, and one day, he died. He left his reflection all alone.

The “once upon a time” and the idea that one can leave their reflection behind when they die enters the territory of folk tale. And I love the unexpected idea that a reflection can be left behind.

The reflection soon grew bored.

Another unexpected event. A reflection grows bored. I’m hooked!

To overcome its boredom, the lion’s reflection seeks something/someone to reflect. It is not satisfied with reflecting just anything. Not a flower. Not a duck. It keeps searching and finds a little girl, an unhappy girl named Harriet, who is getting ready to go school. Harriet does not like school. Finally! Something interesting to reflect!

He waited next to a puddle of water, 
and at the right moment,
he pounced.

I will leave off right here, because the lion’s reflection and Harriet need to learn how to negotiate their new relationship.

I love the looseness and playfulness of the illustrations, and the color palette is vibrant. The end papers and their depictions of water as medium for illusion and reflection are gorgeous. Take note of how the end papers change and how this reflects the theme of the book. I could point out additional unusual details, like its highly unusual beginning, the delightful way reflections are used to tell the story, and the lovely nod to Where the Wild Things Are, but it will be a treat for the reader to find more of these throughout.

Teachers and parents will appreciate the subtle aspect of navigating the varied emotions that arise within a single child. And kids will love the situations presented, identify with Harriet, and become more aware of how they, too, have more than one aspect of themselves. There’s also another notion at play here, in that people hold the resources within themselves to alter their own attitudes, with practice.

Once again, I must note that some of my favorite books every year are brought to the U.S. through translation. Harriet’s Reflections will arrive on shelves at the end of February, so you can preorder now!

Activities

Make an origami lion

Use this handout from Oklahoma State University to teach children about emotions and how they’re reflected in faces. What does your face look like when it’s angry? sad? happy? jealous? etc. Have children use a mirror to watch their face make expressions, and see if they match the kinds of expressions shown in the chart. Can an expression change your mood? Does smiling make them feel better? Does frowning make them feel worse?

Pair this book with Clovis Keeps His Cool. How does Clovis manage his anger? What does he do when his anger gets the best of him? How does he recover from this? Ask children to identify the feelings expressed by Clovis and the other bulls. What in their expressions give them a clue about how they feel? Practice drawing human faces that show different feelings. How does the bulls’ body language also help with understanding how Clovis and the bulls feel throughout the story?

Title: Harriet’s Reflections

Author/Illustrator: Marion Kadi

Translators: Marion Kadi and Abram Kaplan

Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2024

Ages: Prek-3rd grade

Themes: anger, emotional regulation, social and emotional learning

For more perfect picture book recommendations, please visit Susanna Hill’s website.