Garcia & Colette Go Exploring

by Hannah Barnaby, Andrew Joyner (Illustrator)

Exploring outer space and the ocean is exciting, but what if you left something very important at home?

Best friends Garcia and Colette are eager to go exploring, only they can't agree on where to go. Garcia loves everything about space (Stars! Planets!)- and Colette is obsessed with the sea (Waves! Fish!).

Staying home is not an option, so they each get busy. Garcia builds a rocket ship that's snazzy and silver. Colette's shiny submarine is perfect for deep-sea dives. And they wish each other well on their travels.

It turns out the Milky Way really is amazing and the ocean floor is truly spectacular, but Garcia and Colette both realize they left something very important back home.

Exploring your favorite place can be terrific, but maybe the company is more important than the destination.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Space, Adventure, Childrens, Animals, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 5, 2017

About the author

Hannah Barnaby is a former children's book editor and indie bookseller, and was the first-ever Children's Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library. Her debut young adult novel, Wonder Show, was a William C. Morris Award finalist, and her second novel, Some of the Parts, received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly. Hannah makes her double picture book debut in 2017 with Bad Guy, illustrated by Mike Yamada, and Garcia and Colette Go Exploring, illustrated by Andrew Joyner. Hannah lives in Charlottesville, VA with her family.

Reviews

[Chana Stiefel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two friends go their separate ways on two wonderful adventures--one on a home-made rocket to outer space, one on a DIY-submarine into the deep sea. They have everything an explorer could need--peanut butter sandwiches, notebooks, pens--everything that is, but a buddy. Barnaby's fun text zips along with Andrew Joyner's delightful illustrations in this story about the journeys of friendship.

[Katey Howes · Rating 5 out of 5]

When best friends argue over which is better - the sea or space - each goes on journey to explore their favorite. As Garcia and Colette travel on their parallel adventures, clever readers see that there are similarities to both locations, as well as to the experiences the friends encounter. A just right resolution leaves us feeling that the best adventures are those taken together. Joyner's energetic illustrations and Barnaby's evocative descriptions will have kids asking to read this one again and again.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute one. I saw where we were going with it pretty quickly but being torn myself between space and the ocean I hung around for the ending. The colors are pretty nice. I like how the space pages and the sea pages are different colors but they're both bright and colorful, just suited for different themes. It's a nice contrast.

[Jessica Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fun book! The illustrations are super cute, and the author does some really impressive things with the text, both with the rich language and the structure that juxtaposes the conflicting adventures of two inventive friends. I read it to my son because he loves adventures and space and the deep sea, but it turned out to be really helpful in working on social skills we've been focusing on: understanding that you can be friends with someone even when your interests don't completely align, and that sometimes it's more important *who* you're playing with than *what* you're playing. It opened up a great discussion about that, so this was a wonderful book all around for us!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barnaby, Hannah Garcia & Colette Go Exploring, illustrated by Andrew Joyner. PICTURE BOOK. Penguin Random House 2017. $16.99. Content: G.

Garcia wants to explore the outer reaches of space, but Colette wants to travel to the bottom of the ocean. Since they can't agree on their destination, they make separate vehicles, wish each other a safe journey, and go traveling. But exploring alone is, well, lonely. Perhaps if they come together again they can find a compromise after all.

This one is pretty predictable up until the last page or two. Their final compromise is delightful, however, and I could see sharing it with young children and asking for predictions. (Older children will likely have read plenty of similar stories, so they may not find it as enthralling.)

Pre-K, EL (K-3) -- OPTIONAL. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Cheryl Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garcia & Colette are best friends who love to go exploring, but each thinks a different thing should be explored. Garcia wants to go to space. Colette wants to go under the sea. The friends part ways for their different adventures. The friends love their adventures, but both decide that without the other, exploring is just too lonely. Together they come up with the best compromise -- one that combines elements of what they both love and gives them an excellent place to explore. Fun, beautiful illustrations that capture the emotions and explorations of the friends perfectly.

[Joy Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a great story about imagination and exploration!

Friends Garcia and Colette have different ideas about what makes a good adventure, so one goes to space in a rocket, while the other heads to sea in a submarine. Their parallel journeys have a lot in common, and the ending brings the duo together in a satisfying conclusion about friendship. My kids really enjoyed noticing all the similarities between their trips, and it sparked some interesting conversations.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming. I like that they both build and explore, and that there's no arguing over whose idea is better-they like different things and that's okay. It's a positive difference of opinion that leads to a decision about where to explore together.

Not actually really stem/steam-y as such but I think it could work well into the theme. (Also the parallels of space and deep ocean exploration in a picture book is just fun!)

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exploration can be lonely, but when friends go together, it can make the experience much more fun. The parallelisms in the book will get readers thinking about similarities between seemingly different places and encourage them to compare and contrast what they read and see. The illustrations are fanciful and brightly colored and are accompanied by medium-length, descriptive text.

[Gina Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garcia & Colette celebrates the joy of being an imaginative, adventurous child (or bunny or fox) while playing towards a sweet conclusion where friendship always improves the fun. There are a million fun details in the illustrations and the text moves the story along at a tidy and rhythmic clip. They are a memorable duo and I would love to see where Garcia & Colette go on their next adventure!

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best friends Garcia and Colette want to go on different adventures. Garcia wants to go to space and Colette wants to explore the sea. But their journeys are more similar than they realize, with each feeling incomplete. They find that the best journeys don't depend on where you go, but who you go with. Really lovely story about adventure and friendship, accompanied by fantastic illustrations.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends go exploring in different directions and compare their creations for getting to their destinations. Each discover either space and the sea and how quiet it is without their friend. They both come back and go on a journey together on land. Friendship story where both friends learn to appreciate having a friend along when they go exploring.

[Mackenzie Jager · Rating 5 out of 5]

This charming story of adventure and friendship deserves to be read again and again. I was so, so happy to see a boy and girl sharing equal roles as co-protagonists! The art was also some of my favorite art of the whole year (2017)––bright, imaginative, and so welcoming that every moment from exploring outer space to the bottom of the ocean felt real.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids and I loved this book featuring a French speaking Fox and Spanish speaking bunny. The duo are friends but one wants to visit space and the other wants to visit the sea. They build a rocket-ship and submarine and go exploring.
Great book for kids who love "exploring," the sea & space. Also good for discussing friendship.

[Lisa]

Garcia & Collette share the same mission. Go Exploring! But they can't agree on the where. Their parallel journeys to sea and space, allow readers to practice their skills in comparing and contrasting. The text could also be a nice tie in for lessons on prediction and for reinforcing lessons on the importance of community and compromise.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two friends agree to disagree when they cannot agree on which adventure to go on. They each go on their own adventure, one to explore space, and the other to explore the ocean. But they each realize that it is lonely without their friend.

The illustrations in this cute friendship story are gorgeous.

[Alison Goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable story about two adventuring friends who have different ideas about where to travel. Wonderful illustrations! My six-year-old loved this book and was inspired to draw how he would build a submarine of his own.

[Gaia Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best friends, Garcia and Colette are off on parallel adventures. A fun and lyrical read, perfectly highlighted by Joyner's retro-feel illustrations. My three year old has been talking about submarines ever since! So much fun.

[Jannie Ho · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story about friendship and exploration. One can be on their own but it is always nice to have company! Such cute characters and the illustrations are beautiful with washes of color especially in the sea, space and night sky. Transports the reader to different worlds.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two friends with two interests make two exploration vehicles and have two adventures but have one conclusion.
Brush and ink lines were then combined, layered, and digitally colored. The illustrations support the text and provide an opportunity for much to compare and contrast.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two explorers want to explore different regions. So they go their separate ways. They discover the different places are similar in many ways. They also discover they are lonely and they come back together, then find a place that has things they both enjoy so they would not be lonely.

[Brooklyn || The Wild Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! This book addresses friendship, compromise, independence, loneliness, and exploration. I liked the mirroring text and illustrations to show how, even though the two friends enjoyed different activities, there were still similarities that bonded them.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two best friends can't agree on where they should go explore, so they go separately and are alone, missing their friend. All the while, the reader realizes their separate journeys had a lot in common with one another.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

To explorer friends each go on a grand adventure--on their own: one to outer space, the other to the depths of the ocean. What they see is amazing, but one thing is missing!
I loved the illustrations and use of color in this one. Very cute and creative.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While traveling separately on parallel journeys in sea and space two friends discover it is more fun to go on an adventure together.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read and LOVED this book. So well-told, delightfully illustrated, and the parallel stories are as satisfying as that sweet, inevitable ending.

[Adel Otto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story for comparing and contrasting

[Clementine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super clever dual-narrative that kids will love, with detailed, interesting pictures. I liked this one a lot.

[Casandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 friends decide to explore different parts of the universe--space and the sea. They discover that it's a lot more fun with a friend.

[Emma Otheguy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adventure story is reminiscent of Frog & Toad, George & Martha, and all the best friendships...will inspire kids to imaginative play.