Found

On a day trip to the coast, a little boy and his Grandad explore rockpools, build an amazing sandcastle and eat ice cream, but their long-awaited swim must be postponed when they discover a seal pup tangled in a net. Keen to return it safely to its home, the pair borrow a little red boat and set sail, but a storm blows up and makes their task more difficult. ‘What a day!’ says Grandad, later, as seawater drips onto his kitchen floor. ‘You never know what you’re going to find at the beach!’

Found celebrates the important details of everyday life, but over and around them it layers inventive fantasies, bringing the boy’s inner world into sharp focus and adding poignancy to his inter-generational relationship. An underwater swim turns into a search for pirate treasure, and in a homage to world architecture, a few buckets of sand upended on the beach become a gigantic town complete with towers, cupolas and pediments – but whatever the boy throws at him, Grandad rises to the challenge. Dressed in a sleeveless pullover, rolled up trousers and wire-framed specs, he keeps his tie firmly knotted at all times but clearly welcomes adventure, and his facial expressions and body language reflect genuine and heartfelt involvement with his grandson’s world. As in previous titles in this series, the relationship between the pair is sensitively and convincingly portrayed: they clearly love and respect each other, and their interactions are a pleasure to observe.

Admired for his technical drawing skills, Usher works in watercolour and his artwork for this book is imbued with a sense of timelessness, simplicity and honesty that ensures wide appeal. The minimal but well-written story creates an effective framework for these illustrations, allowing Usher to expand visually on the text in a way that feels so natural we barely notice it.

Found offers exciting and productive starting points for learning in schools and other settings, and its gentle blend of fantasy and realism with a dash of nostalgic joie-de-vivre will stimulate and reassure young readers aand speak to adult hearts. It is the latest instalment in a much-loved series including Free, Wild and Lost.