A young girl’s fancy takes flight in Welton’s charming debut picture book. In a distant kingdom bursting “with rays of light,” the inquisitive Myrtle gets lost one day while out picking apples. With no way back to her home, she skitters across the clouds in search of help, wondering “What on earth will happen to me?” Luckily, the wind whisks Myrtle down to the ocean, where, thanks to a couple of savvy seagulls and one very cheerful sea turtle named Max, Myrtle gently lands on a magic carpet, safely on Max’s back, surrounded by a flood of friendly ocean animals.

Myrtle’s journey is every bit as fanciful as readers might hope, given her dreamlike descent to the ocean. Pham paints her adventures in sweeping strokes of aquamarine wonder, as Myrtle is flanked by otters, dolphins, and even a quizzical octopus, all curiously asking her “Where is your home? And who are you? You came here right out of the blue.” She adapts to her new surroundings quickly, making friends and sharing her dreams—an inspiration for younger readers facing unfamiliar situations—and that willingness to stretch her wings pays off big in the end.

Welton’s rhyming structure feels forced in places, but Myrtle’s charisma and sense of whimsy more than make up for it. “In my land, I wished to be queen,” she announces, giving birth to a spectacular cavalcade of briny fun, as she learns to swim with dolphins, frolics with flying fish, and pretends to be a turtle alongside Max—culminating with a dramatic ending that plays off Myrtle’s imagination and special fondness for sea turtles. Welton’s pearls of wisdom—to “see what happens when you believe”—are the perfect fit for this saltwater romp, and Myrtle’s eventual transformation will make even the youngest reader believe in the magic of imagination.

Takeaway: Dreamy aquatic adventure that stretches the imagination.

Comparable Titles: Patrick McDonnell’s Shine!, Amy Sparkes’s Once Upon a Wish.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A