United States (Kokila, 2025)
France (Didier Jeunesse, 2025)

Our Lake

Kokila, Penguin Random House 2025

ISBN 9780593698235

A tender and vulnerable exploration of love and loss that follows two boys as they take their first trip back to the lake without their father, from debut author-illustrator Angie Kang.

On a sweltering hot day, a little boy mirrors his brother as he takes off his shirt, stretches, and walks toward the edge of the tall rock, ready to dive into the cool lake waters glistening below. Only this time, Father is not here. And the water looks so far away. How can he take the plunge?

With a gorgeous, deft touch in her exquisitely soft illustrations and words, Angie Kang conveys vulnerability, longing, and connection as these two boys hear Father’s laugh and see his memory all around them, uniting them in a bittersweet moment.

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Trade Reviews

★ “A deeply felt story about siblings returning to a cherished place…in loosely painted, expressive gouache, crayon, and colored pencil. Foregrounding the hard work of moving forward, this story about loss offers a vision of a place where “we are all together.”

—Publisher’s Weekly, starred review
★ “A heartrending journey through grief and bravery unfolds in this beautifully illustrated story. With lyrical descriptive language and breathtaking illustrations, this book tenderly explores themes of loss, bravery, and family.”
—School Library Journal, starred review
“A heartfelt story of overcoming grief. Mixing gouache with the texture from crayons and colored pencils, Kang paints the sky a soft yellow with foliage in deep blues and greens. Combining these elements with the unlined art adds a softness to the delicate subject matter. A valuable addition for even the most robust collections.”
—Booklist
“A sensitive look at the delicate process of navigating loss. The gouache, crayon, and colored pencil illustrations convey a sense of calm and comfort while also acknowledging the anxiety of the unknown.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Lyrical… The text has a contemplative quality to it, never taking up more than three short lines at a time and allowing the viewer space to process every word… Vibrant eye-catching colors splash across every page.”
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Video courtesy of Let’s Talk Picture Books