Hey there, everyone! Welcome to another installment of Reading with Robin! As a librarian who loves to read, I also love to talk about books and connect other readers with books they can fall in love with. In these posts, I’m going to talk about what I’ve been reading, what I liked about the book, and who I’d recommend the book to next.
This entry’s book is: Fortunately, The Milk written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Skottie Young!
Anyone who knows my novel reading habits knows that I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan and anyone who knows my comic reading habits knows that I am a huge Skottie Young fan. So, naturally, their book Fortunately, The Milk was going to make an appearance on this blog sooner rather than later.
Fortunately, The Milk is a delightful, imaginative romp through a world populated with pirates and dinosaurs and vampires in which one father courageously attempts to make it home to his hungry children without spilling the milk he was sent to pick up for breakfast. Written in Gaiman’s signature style and with illustrations drawn in Young’s striking hand, the book is a treasure for children aged 7 to 107.
I think what I liked best about this book is that at it’s heart, it’s a story about a father who loves his children so much he is willing to fight off all kinds of threats (even if they may or may not be imaginary) to get them what they need – milk for their cereal! Young’s illustrations match perfectly with the manic, creative tone of the story which Gaiman’s protagonist weaves and the only regret I have is that the whole thing isn’t done in equally vibrant color!
Fans of any of Neil Gaiman’s extensive writing catalog or Skottie Young’s equally expansive illustrative work will definitely want to pick up this book and give it a read, but it’s appeal is far wider. If you enjoy consuming work by creators like Terry Pratchett, Dustin Ngyuen, or Roald Dahl, this might be the perfect book for you. If you enjoy watching television or films like Gravity Falls, We Bare Bears, or Steven Universe: The Movie, give this book a spin – it could be right up your alley!