At the cake shop, Ladybug and Beetle are squabbling about what they are going to choose, and Leo waits in line, frustrated at the delay.
He leaves without a purchase.
Leo lists all the extraordinary things he’d like to buy for Kimbo, but also all the reasons they are inaccessible.
Leo decides a poem from the heart would be the most appropriate present for his friend. He writes a rhyming verse but at the end he can’t rhyme the last line.
Penguin and Sons sells rhymes. They will solve his problem. But, even with all their experience, they can’t come up with a rhyming word for oranges.
Leo arrives at Kimbo’s house with an unfinished poem.
Kimbo isn’t there but at Leo’s house in the hope that they can spend the day together.
There are a lot of uncommon obstacles for the two friends to overcome. It seems any plans they try to make are road blocked!
They must contend with traffic jams, a Bug parade, Robo-Dog exhibitions, which become chaotic when the Robo-Dogs lose their screws, and turn to the mouse garage for help.
Can the two friends finally meet up? Will Leo finish his poem before he meets Kimbo? If not, what alternative does he have?
Will all the adventures they have had, trying to get together, be enough excitement for a birthday day?
This is a humorous journey which begins from opposite sides of town, with two friends trying to please one another, while trying to meet in the middle.
No One is Home has stunning, bright, bold, intricate illustrations by Gosia Herba. The pages are filled with so much for children to search and find. The most amazing end pages are bold, black images set against a yellow background.
Mikolaj Pa is a graphic designer, writer, and collage artist with a list of other amazing roles, who lives in Wroclaw, Poland.
Herba illustrates children’s books and graphic novels. Her work has been exhibited around the globe. She has a unique style, and an incredible ability to fill space with detailed images. Here, she uses only animals as characters.
This beautiful book is one of many children’s picture books emerging recently from Europe, by gifted creators who are capturing the attention of many Australian publishers and distributors.
Title: No One is Home
Author: Mikolaj Pa
Illustrator: Gosia Herba
Publisher: NewSouth Books, $29.99
Publication Date: 1 September 2025
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781778402180
For ages: 4 - 8
Type: Picture Book
