A fun and spirited story of unexpected adventure and gentle self-discovery.
Nicolai’s latest is a brisk, good-humored picture book that examines momentum, fear, and self-discovery through an unlikely pairing. Cone, a traffic cone content with routine, spends her days observing the familiar rhythms of the street. However, her sense of control is disrupted when Skate—a skateboard with “a need for speed”—collides with her, sending Cone rolling headlong into motion.
What follows is a rapid series of strange encounters as Cone hangs on, alarmed and vocal—“GET ME OFF THIS THING!”—while Skate presses ahead with easy confidence. Nicolai traces Cone’s emotional shift with care, letting fear soften into curiosity as the world opens up. Humor is in plenty but controlled, and the story’s meaning emerges organically through Cone’s changing perspective. Cone’s closing request—“Please call me Cone. Roll a little slower. And let’s stop every once in a while… on purpose.”—lands as a quiet articulation of the book’s core idea: adventure gains meaning when paired with choice and attentiveness. Christina Michalos’s watercolor-style art blends whimsy with clarity, layering visual humor, imaginative details, and vibrant cityscapes that reward close attention.
A rollicking book that offers young readers a thoughtful take on risk and restraint, celebrating movement without losing sight of pause. Well suited to children exploring new experiences and libraries seeking reflective read-alouds.
Pub date January 5, 2026
ISBN 9798218851323
