Booklist Review

Shum has created a beautiful simple story about listening, feelings, healing, and empathy in this follow-up to Anzu the Great Kaiju (2021). The story opens as Anzu, a kind and patient Kaiju, meditatively tends his bonsai, only for the peace to be broken by crying from the neighboring village. When he ventures over to see what's wrong, he learns that their kaiju has left them, much to the villagers' despair. Anzu tries to help them but makes mistakes along the way. After taking a moment to reflect by his bonsai, Anzu understands how he can better help the villagers: "Instead of trying to fix everything, Anzu listened." Together, they rebuild and create physical spaces where villagers can work through their emotions, and Anzu gives them his bonsai tree when it blooms. The paneled artwork showcases cheerful colors, rounded lines, and adorable villagers that look like tiny axolotls. This is a sweet addition to SEL collections with a clear, but not didactic, message. An illustrated "Bonsai Facts" page closes the story.