1. Adventure
2. Belonging
3. Book design
4. Compassion
5. Empathy
6. Friendship
7. Homelessness
8. Hope
9. Imagery
10. Kindness
11. Relationships
12. Visual literacy

On the surface, ‘Finding You’ is a simple, straightforward story of a boy who finds a dog, and there is a happy ending. The opening line, ‘I watch you from afar. Roaming lost and alone.’ immediately absorbs the reader. Who is lost and alone? Alternate interpretations are possible as both text and illustrations are open-ended.

There is a perfect match of storyteller and illustrator here as they simultaneously offer simplicity and sophistication. The text is brief with lyrical phrasing such as ‘roaming lost and alone’, ‘crunchy carpeted forests’ and ‘scratchy lavender fields’. These are reflected in Sommerville’s atmospheric landscapes and adventures through the city. Her people and cityscapes are soft and atmospheric set against a warm cream or tan background, both reflecting this gentle story. The horizontal format of the book lends itself to moving through these landscapes and communities as readers notice people and their worlds. There are surprises too as Sommerville takes her page design across double page spreads to represent the exuberate new relationship between boy and dog followed by a clever emotive moment when they are pulled apart. The endpapers offer an aerial view of a town nestled comfortably within a countryside.

1. New Frontier Teaching Notes for ‘Finding You’ https://www.newfrontier.com.au/files/teachers_notes/finding-you-tn.pdf
2. Scholastic Australia Teaching Notes for ‘Finding You’ https://resource.scholastic.com.au/ResourceFiles/100100892_105033.pdf
3. Just Write for Kids Blog 1 Aug 2022 review by Romi Sharp of ‘Finding You’ https://www.justkidslit.com/bookreview-finding-you-by-robert-vescio-and-hannah-sommerville/
4. Child: The Real Guide for Parents 27 Oct 2022 ‘Book Reviews: Picture Books That Concentrate on Feelings and Emotions’ reviews of several Australian books including ‘Finding You’ https://www.childmags.com.au/book-reviews-picture-books-that-focus-on-feelings-and-emotions/
5. Wombat Books 9 Oct 2013 ‘An Interview with Robert Vescio’ http://www.wombatbooks.com.au/index.php/blog/entry/an-interview-with-robert-vescio