Description "A remarkably delicate and beautiful picture book." — Kirkus Reviews "Shows just how wondrous a storyteller Sydney Smith is." — Booklist "Breathes hope into small beings caught in fearful, uncertain situations." — BookPage "An ode to the small beings living within a vast, noisy world." — Horn Book "The quiet but powerful wish for someone we love to be safe." — Publishers Weekly Encouragement for small beings living in a vast world On a cold, snowy winter day, a child steps off a bus and into the middle of the city. Weaving through towering skyscrapers and crowds of people, the child says, 'I know what it's like to be small in this city.' People don't notice the small 'me'—or pretend not to—and pass by without a glance. Taxis honk at crosswalks, and construction sites clatter without pause. No one passing by realizes just how threatening that indifference and noise can feel to a child. The child takes careful, deliberate steps through the huge, noisy city. The bustling streets crowd the mind, too, but the child repeats 'It's going to be okay' like a quiet spell. And along the way, the child shares what they know about this city with someone. Past the main road lies a shortcut. But it's best not to go down the alley that's too dark. It's also best to avoid the building with three big dogs in the front yard—they chase each other and growl. Still, the city isn't only full of scary places to avoid. There's a mulberry bush that's perfect for hiding for a moment, and a vent that blows out warm air, smelling like the middle of summer. In the park, there's the child's favorite bench, where they sometimes meet a friend. As the child wanders the city, quietly telling their story, they stop in front of a streetlamp and pull something out of their bag. On a utility pole in a residential area, at the entrance of a fish shop, on a wire fence around an empty lot... the child has been posting pink flyers everywhere they go. The flyers say they're searching for a beloved cat. The child has bravely ventured into the city, facing their fears, in search of a lost cat—seeing themselves in the cat wandering the unfamiliar streets, and gently reassuring both the cat and themselves: I know how you feel, it's going to be okay. Through the child's voice, the author encourages small beings taking one careful step at a time into an unfamiliar, enormous world. To children who will someday have to stand on their own, and to those bravely doing so now, the book offers warm reassurance: it's frightening and uncertain, but you'll be okay. Through the fish shop owner who listens to the child and lets them post the flyer, and through the family who comes to meet the child, the story offers gentle comfort—reminding us that somewhere in this world, there is always someone to lean on and some place to rest when we're tired and struggling. Everyone has moments when the steps they take into the world feel heavy. In those moments, we hope this book can offer quiet comfort—soothing yourself, or someone beside you, with the words, 'It's going to be okay.' A beautiful picture book showcasing Sydney Smith's signature sensitive artistry Sydney Smith is an outstanding illustrator known for elevating the strengths of any text he illustrates. With this work, however, he proves himself equally masterful as a storyteller. He has said that readers who venture into an unfamiliar story deserve a reward in return. His skillful use of panel division and layout—subtly diverging from readers' expectations while building anticipation for what comes next—is a signature of his singular style. This sensitive artistry shines throughout It's Going to Be Okay. From the cover's close-up of the child's face on the bus, to the opening scene, the craftsmanship is evident. The author divides the child's shadowed face, backlit, and the blurred cityscape beyond the bus window into four frames, drawing readers directly into the child's journey. And...