Are We There Yet

New York Times award winning author/illustrator Sven Völker once again brings his trademark graphic imagery to this gorgeous introduction to philosophical ideas for even the youngest of readers.

Bear wakes up after his long winter’s sleep and joins his friend, Butterfly, on a journey. ’Where are we going?’ asks bear. ’All journeys have secret destinations’, says Butterfly. As they travel through forest, over hill and across a great river, Butterfly offers her wisdom about hardships, facing one’s fears and living in the moment. Bear’s natural impatience gradually softens into acceptance of the world around him. As the seasons change, the friends find themselves once more in front of Bear’s cave. Landscapes look different with different eyes and the end of one journey is the beginning of another.

This is a heartwarming book about friendship and about circles and cycles of life and being. It is a sweet and calming bedtime story that introduces Buddhist philosophies and values to young readers.

Sven Volker is a Berlin-based author/illustrator and a professor in graphic design. His picture book A Million Dots was a New York Times ’Best Illustrated Children’s Book’ winner in 2019.