Neighbors

About the book
"If I think about it, my ceiling is someone else's floor, and my floor is someone else's ceiling. If I could reach through this wall, I would probably touch someone." This is what the heroine of this book thinks as she unpacks in her new apartment. She reflects on the endless variety of life unfolding all around us day and night, of which we often only have a vague idea from the sound of footsteps and the hum of voices. Who are our neighbors? What are they doing now? Are they like us? Can we become friends, or will we remain forever in parallel realities, separated by thin walls?

The illustrations are done in ink, and the dynamic black-and-white drawings blur the line between reality and fiction. The city itself is also mysterious—we can only imagine Moscow in its towers, buildings, and alleys. Night passes, an incredible dawn breaks, and with the new day, the heroine makes a new friend.

In 2020, the book received the prestigious Caldecott Medal: NEIGHBORS was named the best book published in the United States that year. This medal is awarded to authors who are not U.S. citizens.

Who this book is for
For children aged three to eight.
For lovers of book illustration.
For family reading.
For lovers of mysterious cityscapes.
Quote from the book
"But if I think about it... My ceiling is someone else's floor, and my floor is someone else's ceiling. If I could reach through this wall, I would probably touch someone... What if there was absolutely nothing beyond the walls of my room?"