by Daniel Nayeri
First sentence: “A boy named Nothing woke up on the floor.”
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Release date: October 27, 2026
Review copy provided by the publisher.
Content: It has a fairy-tale-like feel, and there is a lot of white space. However, the words make pictures and while that’s cool, it might put off some readers.

Nothing has no parents, and isn’t regarded at all in the mountain town where he lives. (Hence, his name.) All he has is a woman he calls Nana, his mouse friend mOmO, and a dog named Pöppy. Nothing wants to find out his True Purpose, and asks Nana how. She sends the trio off on an adventure. Things Happen, and Nothing figures out that it’s not what he’s named or who is parents are, it’s who he is.

There’s not much substance to this book – mostly because it’s a fairy tale, a fable. What IS cool about this book, and the reason I kept reading, is the format. The words make pictures on the page. Like this:

It’s very visually engaging. Though, as I was raving about this to a coworker, they mentioned that maybe that would make it difficult for some kids to read. Because it’s a very involved book. Sometimes the text goes over a page turn and back again, which confused me until I figured it out. This will be amazing for some kids – they will enjoy the puzzle of it all, and the visual aspect of the book, but it will absolutely turn others off. I fall in the enjoyment camp: I found it engaging and entertaining, though it was entirely because of the visual aspect.

And truthfully, I can’t wait to see the final book.