Review of "What Mommy Doesn't See" by Karen Ledbetter, Illustrated by Kassy Keppol

Score: 95/100 (9.5 out of 10)

A child's imagination is an incredible, remarkable, and unpredictable thing!

And nowhere is that fact better demonstrated than in What Mommy Doesn't See!

This is truly a unique, fascinating, and wildly unorthodox children's book written by Karen Ledbetter. It is exceptionally illustrated by Kassy Keppol!

This book follows an unnamed little boy and his titular mother ("Mommy") as they embark on a magical and fantastical adventure together. Well, Mommy initially sees the world and daily tasks as plain and mundane. However, from her child's point of view, the world is a magical, mystical, exciting place full of things (and strange creatures) to find and discover.

On every single page of this book, the son imagines everything from lions to giants to dragons!

There's so much to see and discover on each and every page of this book!

Mommy takes the son on a walk while he's riding a wheelbarrow. Along the way, he imagines seeing unicorns, fairies, Vikings, and more!

They go on a canoe ride, and the son imagines seeing a witch, sea monsters, and other exciting things.

They go for a walk, and the son imagines seeing Yetis/Big Foot and a dragon.

They have a picnic, and the son imagines a lion, an armadillo, a roadrunner, a dragon, elephants, dogs, and fairies joining them.

In perhaps the most remarkable sequence of the entire book, the boy covers Mommy's eyes, then uncovers them to reveal all of the incredible mystical creatures who have been hiding from her.

This two-page sequence is almost animation-quality! It's seamless!

On one page, Mommy is unsure and looking a little anxious. On the next page, Mommy is surprised by all she sees.

On one page, the unicorn is looking hungily at an apple that Mommy is holding. On the next page, the unicorn is eating Mommy's apple!

On one page, the monkey is holding Mommy's glasses. On the next page, the monkey is giving Mommy her glasses so she can see clearly again.

It's a really impressive sequence!

This book kinda acts like those Where's Waldo? or Seeing Eye books. Children are invited to spot all of the interesting things hiding in the different layers of the book.

It's a lot of fun and really invites children to flex and celebrate their imaginations.

Check it out on Etsy!