Losing things is a part of life. Whether it’s an especially bouncy ball, a favourite hair ribbon, or even a pet, every child knows what it’s like to lose something special. But what happens to these objects after they go missing? This is the question author-illustrator Carey Sookocheff addresses in her new picture book, Lost Things.

The book begins with a young girl out walking her dog. Unfortunately, the dog spots a squirrel and takes off running, causing the girl to lose her grip on the leash and her hair ribbon all at once. From there, the narrative takes an unexpected turn. Instead of following the girl, it follows the hair ribbon, which is picked up by a bird and taken back to a nest. The nest is spotted by a small boy who absentmindedly drops his teddy bear on the ground. The teddy is spotted by a passing cyclist and taken to a lost and found. And so it goes, until the girl we met at the beginning finds a red ball – and her dog comes running back.

The story is told almost entirely through the illustrations, which are both simple and charming. Sookocheff relies on muted colours and clean linework that allows the smallest of details to stand out – which is important, because it’s the small details that carry the story.

Meanwhile, the text serves a separate, complementary purpose. While the illustrations are designed to guide young readers through the plot, the text gently helps children put their losses into context. When the boy loses his teddy, for example, the text says, “Sometimes, lost things have to wait to be found.” When the cyclist loses her pencil and the shopkeeper who finds it uses it to prop up a plant, the text reads, “Other times, they aren’t missed at all. But can become someone else’s treasure.”

Together, these simple illustrations and spare text weave a comforting and surprisingly complex story that’s perfectly suited to a preschool audience. Fans of Sidewalk Flowers and Knuffle Bunny will love this one.