The Pocket Book

the unnamed young girl fills her pockets: a feather, a pine cone, a handful of jelly beans, a cracker, a seashell, and more treasures along the way. Julia Breckenreid’s ultra-realistic illustrations complement Alexandra Hinrichs’ minimal text, creating visual interest and capturing texture through extreme close-ups set against a stark white background. The girl’s coat has the authentic texture of denim, and the items in her pocket, which form their own full-page displays, are so realistic and highly detailed that, at first, they appear to be photoshopped. Readers can see the grains of salt on the cracker and feel the ridges on a seashell, the softness of a downy feather, and the smoothness of a well-worn piece of driftwood.

The detailed illustrations enhance the simple story; The Pocket Book is a quiet and poetic picture book which suggests that the items in the girl’s pockets are not just things she may need, such as a snack or a bandage; they are souvenirs that record powerful memories A seashell represents the ocean, but the girl’s collection of related objects (beach pebbles, sea glass, driftwood, a popsicle stick, a piece of string, a message in a bottle) remind her of a wish and a sunny day. An acorn is a tree. A dog tag is a friend. A key is home and a sense of security. Sunflower seeds are a promise of the future, with its worries and rewards. The girl’s pockets hold a microcosm of her world and show readers the things she values.

While young readers may need support in interpreting the significance of some of the objects in the girl’s pockets, the universal meaning of the story is clear, and pre-readers will be absorbed by the illustrations, identifying them and interpreting their importance. The illustrations could also be used to encourage children to create their own collage of small pocket treasures.