Beyond the Pond (Joseph Kuefler, Harper Collins, 2015)

Beyond the Pond is a magical tribute to the power of imagination. Ernest D. is bored. He decides to dive into the pond in his backyard, which is  conveniently bottomless. He swims down deep to discover an amazing world, then comes out on the other side to find a land filled with things that frighten and wow him. When he returns home, his own yard seems much more interesting. The illustrations show that Ernest D. now sees the extraordinary in the ordinary and realises that there are many discoveries to be had on his own side of the pond. Ernest’s dog accompanies him on his adventure which adds to this book’s charm. This picture book is the first for Joseph Kuefler and has received a number of starred reviews. Lovely, lovely, lovely!