102

by Matthew Cordell

From Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell comes a cozy, magical nighttime adventure, in which a child discovers the mysterious, miniature world beyond his bedroom walls. Sent home from school earlier in the day with a fever, George awakens in the middle of the night to discover a cricket beckoning him on an adventure and soon finds himself shrunken down in size. He follows the insect guide through a crack in his bedroom wall, through the moonlit yard, and into the home of a family of mice at the base of an oak tree. There, in a tiny, cozy kitchen, George discovers the meaning of his quest: he must help the Mama mouse complete her special 102-bean soup for her sick young son. Delightfully sweet as it is fantastic, 102 seamlessly explores the values of curiosity, kindness, and generosity. The simple yet profound conclusion shares a clever wink with readers, encouraging them to believe the unbelievable.

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy

48 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2026

About the author

Matthew Cordell is the acclaimed author and illustrator of the 2018 Caldecott winner Wolf in the Snow. He is also the author and illustrator of Trouble Gum and the illustrator of If the S in Moose Comes Loose, Toot Toot Zoom!, Mighty Casey, Righty and Lefty, and Toby and the Snowflakes, which was written by his wife. Matthew lives in the suburbs of Chicago with his wife, writer Julie Halpern, and their daughter, Romy.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caldecott-award winner Matthew Cordell creates magic in a 102 different ways in this fantasy-infused picture book of kindness and empathy. Known for his incredible details and crosshatching style, Cordell’s multicolored ballpoint pen imagines a young boy named George and his escapades with the smallest of creatures.

Suffering from a 102 temperature, he pleads with his mother to keep the mouse they capture in an abandoned tank. During the night, a cricket awakens him and he shrinks down to her level only to discover hidden passageways and the mouse’s true purpose for scurrying past them with a bean. Sprinkled throughout the narrative are “102” symbols and words to mark George’s trip this night and through his life.

A rich journey of discovery and connection, Cordell reminds readers that we are connected to everything that lives and all are deserving of mercy and kindness. A beautiful and stunning masterpiece, this is Cordell at his very best. Highly recommended.

[Dylan Teut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite and breaking the bonds of traditional narrative, this book seeps Brian Selznick level art and storytelling, leaving us hopeful that Matthew Cordell continues to pursue similar endeavors and narratives in the texts he gifts readers.

[Jody Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful