Maayken Koolen
We’re Moving House Tomorrow
When everything is being packed for the big move, Otis loses Sam, his chameleon, who refuses to be put inside a box. As the house fills up with boxes, finding his pet becomes more and more difficult. Maayken Koolen cleverly uses the chaos of moving house to create a playful picture book about friendship. Otis becomes increasingly desperate and readers can help to look for his best friend. Otis obviously won’t move house without Sam and luckily he doesn’t have to – when the house is almost empty, the chameleon suddenly reappears, and Otis and his mum can breathe a sigh of relief.
Koolen uses bright colours with lots of contrasts and contours in a style that feels messy but is in fact very precise. This is a remarkable and unconventional picture book that beautifully demonstrates what Koolen is capable of.