102

Coming Soon

Contributors

By Matthew Cordell

On Sale
Apr 14, 2026
Page Count
48 pages
ISBN-13
9780316580953

*”Utterly entrancing.” —Kirkus, starred review
*”Tender and imaginative.” —SLJ, starred review
*”Graceful, cozy.” —Booklist, starred review
*”A weird and wonderful story.” —Horn Book, starred review
*”Pulses with warmth and inventiveness.”—PW, starred review

From Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell comes a cozy, magical nighttime adventure, where 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.

  • * “A tender and imaginative story that beautifully blends whimsy with warmth…” 
    School Library Journal, starred review
  • * “Utterly entrancing.”
    Kirkus, starred review
  • * “[An] ambitions picture book that recalls works by Chris Van Allsburg and David Wiesner…”
    Publishers Weekly, starred review
  • * “[Cordell’s] fanciful yet down-to-earth narrative will entrance...”
     
    Booklist, starred review
  • "A weird and wonderful story."
    Horn Book, starred review

Formats and Prices

Price

$18.99

Price

$24.99 CAD

Format:

  1. Hardcover $18.99 $24.99 CAD
  2. Audiobook Download (Unabridged) $4.99

Matthew Cordell

About the Author

Matthew Cordell has illustrated many books for children including works of poetry, novels, and picture books, like Bob, Not Bob!Leaps and Bounce; and Rooting for You! He has also created numerous picture books himself including Wolf in the Snow, which was awarded the 2018 Caldecott Medal, EvergreenHopeWish; DreamHello, Neighbor! The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers; and Bear Island as well as the Cornbread & Poppy series. Matthew lives in suburban Chicago with his wife, author Julie Halpern, and their two children.

Learn more about this author