The Great Escape by Deborah Marcero

This picture book is extreeeeemely relatable to all older siblings. Idk what it is about younger sibs always wanting to get up in our business, but this book very accurately portrays that situation, then delightfully shows readers one way to resolve it.

Evie is your average kid. She believes very much in magic, and wishes she had some sort of spell to help control her rambunctious younger siblings, Wolfie, Bunny and Teddy (who are all charmingly and conveniently dressed in onesies reminiscent of their names throughout this book.) They’re always bugging her to play loud and chaotic games with them when she just wants to read a book or have some quiet time alone.

One wintry day, she devises a plan to sneak out past her whirlwind of siblings and enjoy some solitary time out in nature. But with the hypervigilance of little kids, they easily track her down. Out of sheer desperation, she casts a spell that helps her plunge right into a snowdrift and emerge into a fantastical world of beauty.

Wolfie, Bunny and Teddy, however, are relentless. Can Evie figure out a way to evade them so she can fully enjoy her new surroundings and finally get a little peace and quiet?

Nothing quite goes to plan in this beautiful book that invites readers to physically turn it round and round to follow Evie and her siblings as they navigate a magical world inspired by both the deep sea and outer space. Deborah Marcero incorporates images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope into her digital illustrations, making for some truly gorgeous art. Everything about the visuals is done with thought and attention to detail, making for probably the best-looking picture book I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year so far.

And while, spoiler alert, Evie never does find her alone time in these pages, she does discover that peace and quiet can come even when surrounded by a bunch of little hellions. It’s a lovely tale made sweeter by the promise that she will one day grow up and find a room of her own. In the meantime, it’s not such a bad thing to spend time with people who truly love you.

The Great Escape by Deborah Marcero was published February 17 2026 by G P Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and is available from all good booksellers, including