This Is a Door

Kirkus Prize Finalist

Publishers Weekly 2026 Best Books of the Year-Middle Grade

BookPage 10 Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Fall 2026

Indigo Top 100 Kids Best of the Year

„There are good children’s books that are only for children. But then there is children’s literature-books that inspire connection and conversation between children and their grown-ups. This Is a Door is literature.“ – The New York Times

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A groundbreaking hero’s journey from National Book Award and Newbery Honor winner, Daniel Nayeri! A young boy, a mouse, and a dog set out to find their purpose in this fairy tale adventure told in an innovative visual format that offers a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

This is the tale of a boy named Nothing the Younger, who lives in a city on the mountaintop of a far-off and long-lost country. Everyone calls him Ing, and while he has no parents, he does have two friends: a dog, Poeppy, and a mouse, mOmO. When King Cyrus calls for a hero to find and defeat the Giantess ravaging the countryside, the king’s son, the Wander Prince, answers the call and Ing decides to follow. Along the journey, Ing (and his friends) must traverse the Land of the Dead, survive an encounter with the terrifying wimmelworm, and discover the truth of his mother and father . . . so that he may find what he’s been seeking all along-his best purpose.

The text on each page snakes, climbs, jumps, and explodes into shapes and forms that unravel the story. This Is a Door is full of fun surprises and poignant musings that flip the classic hero’s journey on its head-all in an artistic and inventive package that is a wonder to behold.