Hello, friends! Our book today is Papa Brings Me The World by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw, a story of a father and daughter and the adventurous spirit they share.

Lu’s Papa is not like other Papas. While some fathers take their car or a bus or a train to work, Lu’s Papa travels much further than most; he is a photojournalist, and travels around the world to take pictures of places and things that most of us have never seen before. When he returns from his journeying, he always brings a gift for Lu, be it a bit of the local currency, a musical instrument, a new pen pal, or even simply his journals, filled with stories and drawings of far-away places. Lu often misses her Papa, especially on special days, but she would never wish him to stop traveling; like her, he has a wanderlust too compelling, and she looks forward to the day they can travel the world together.

Very sweet. This look at a unique father-daughter relationship, based on the author/illustrator’s real-life father, tells a simple yet sweet story that is as much about travel and exploration as it is about family. The treasures and tales that Lu’s father brings her are fascinating; stories about cairns in the Andes and games of “Semut, Orang, Gajah” in Sumatra draw in the reader as much as they do Lu (in fact, a clever illustration reveals how to play “Semut, Orang, Gajah”, letting readers participate in the joy of discovery). The art is rich and textured, and tells as much of the story as the text does with color, pattern, and style. It is a bit lengthy for younger bookworms; JJ was losing focus near the end, though she enjoyed the detailed artwork very much. A tender tale of family that opens up a world of exploration, and we liked it. Baby Bookworm approved.

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)