My Life at the Bottom: The Story of a Lonesome Axolotl by Linda Bondestam, (translated from the Swedish by A.A. Prime), Yonder, 2022. 9781632061386
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4.5
Format: digital pdf
What did you like about the book? A creation story that quickly results in present day with too many people, buildings and pollution. Then an amazing occurrence: in a forest of seaweed, out of 987 eggs, only one hatched to become the cutest little axolotl ever. As the water was full of food, the little axolotl grew quickly. The axolotl was happy, attending school with other sea creatures learning important things and making friends. But some friends grew and left leaving the little axolotl alone and lonely to collect trash that fell into the sea. A huge storm uproots the little A. thrusting it out of the water. When it awakens it is not alone; there is another axolotl! And the two of them create 987 baby axolotls!
Beautifully layered and illuminated underwater scenes, that appear to be watercolor and ink, create a mesmerizing world where the little Axolotl comes to vivid life.
Anything you did not like about the book? The font is infinitesimal making it very difficult to read.
To whom would you recommend this book? This is a quiet way to illustrate to children the plight of the oceans and the life it contains.
Who should buy this book? Public and K-1 libraries
Where would you shelve it? Picture books
Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes, I think so.
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Katrina Yurenka, Retired Librarian, Contributor, Youth Services Book Review
Date of Review: April 22, 2022
Youth Services Book Review 
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