A tender, probing appreciation of what lies just below the surface. Tucked beneath a quilt in the center of the bed, Finn is having a horrible day. "Grandpa wanted to talk about it. Finn did not." The child is quite certain that Grandpa won't understand, but the old man convinces Finn to take a walk with him (still under the quilt) and is soon pointing out instances where what's on the surface conceals hidden complexities--trees with deep roots, for instance, and water teeming with fish. "Beneath appearances are experiences. Beneath actions are explanations. Beneath what's different is what's the same," he says. As Finn slowly emerges from the quilt, Grandpa ties it all together: "Beneath someone who looks like they won't understand…is someone who knows exactly how you feel." As in her The Rabbit Listened (2018), Doerrfeld has crafted another brief yet incisive picture book. Here, her cozy yet vibrant art advocates for understanding and acceptance alongside the artist's unique brand of straightforward simplicity. Grandpa's tour begins big (with nature) and seems to narrow in focus (with an exploration of emotions), but Doerrfeld caps the book off brilliantly with Finn pointing out the cosmic stars above. "Don't worry…I'll remember to think of what's beneath"--a breathtaking clincher. Grandpa and Finn are both tan-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.) No need to scratch beneath the surface of this text to find the glint of gold. It's apparent right from the start. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In a bad mood, young Finn sits on a bed under a multicolored quilt, uninterested in discussing the situation: "No. You won't understand," they say. But Finn grumpily complies when Grandpa suggests a walk, and meanders along still underneath the quilt. "Don't worry," says Grandpa. "I'll remember to think of what's beneath." Their walk through a coastal forest landscape shows all that "beneath" can mean across places and species. Grandpa meditates on the root systems under trees, and the wealth of sea life below a fishing boat offshore. Heavy, charcoal-like outlines give an organic feel to the digital artwork as the quilt starts to come down around Finn's shoulders. "And people?" Finn asks. "Of course!" Grandpa replies, "Everyone is more than what you see. Beneath appearances are experiences. Beneath actions are explanations. Beneath what's different is what's the same." Under Grandpa and Finn's pale-skinned exteriors, Doerrfeld (Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend!) shows in a sobering moment, are broken hearts missing the same person, which context clues suggest is the maker of the quilt Finn's been huddled under. It's a subtle message buoyed by thoughtful cross- sectional reveals, which include the skeletons within animals, and a fetus growing inside a gestating parent. Ages 4--8. Agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency. (Jan.)

One morning, Grandpa walks into Finn's room and finds the child sitting beneath a quilt and in a terrible mood. When they go for a walk together, Finn insists on staying under the quilt. Grandpa says, "I'll remember to think of what's beneath." The concept of thinking about what lies below the surface becomes the theme of his observations and gently delivered advice. Sometimes you know what's beneath (the roots of trees), but other times, you can only guess. With people, "Beneath appearances are experiences." And sometimes, "Beneath someone who looks like they won't understand . . . is someone who knows exactly how you feel." Gradually, Finn emerges from the quilt and the unspoken emotional burden. There's plenty here to discuss on various levels, from the visual clues suggesting a reason for Finn's gloom to the idea that people's actions reflect experiences that others can't see, but even young children can relate to Finn waking up in a bad mood and slowly recovering. The inviting digital art works seamlessly with the well-worded text in this original picture book.