Curiosities

On one dawn, a group of beings called the Curiosities settle on Miro as a place to nest. At first he barely notices them, since they blend into his surroundings, perching on his shoulder and tucking themselves into his hair. Gradually he realizes that he takes in sights and feelings in a different way from the people around him.

The Curiosities open up a remarkable world for him. He spins clouds into stories for the wind and finds wonders in the shadowy corners that everyone else overlooks. Yet they can also leave him feeling lost and alone. Their shrieking, roaring and overwhelming brightness can make him feel unseen. Miro may not be as isolated as he believes, though, because the Curiosities may have chosen other people too.

The story is written by Zana Fraillon, the award-winning children's author of The Bone Sparrow and Wisp. Its illustrations by Phil Lesnie draw on legends from his Filipino heritage. The book explores emotion, self-expression and empathy, and it looks at the many perspectives of neurodivergent people. Its central message is that people who experience the world differently have always been among us.