Come With Me (2017)

 Come With Me by Holly M. McGhee (2017) is a lovely story about adults helping a young child to feel agency in a world that can be quite frightening. McGhee writes on the first page of the book "Come With Me is written in honor of friendship, bravery, and the fact that we aren't powerless, no matter how small and insignificant we may feel." The young girl in this story sees anger and hatred on the television news. When she asks her parents how she can make the world a better place, their answers are simple and doable. They go about their daily lives by showing kindness and friendliness. Nevertheless, the parents acknowledge their own fear when their little girl wants to walk the dog on her own. They let her go; "They would not live in fear." That's not quite the end of this gentle story. I won't give away the lesson. Pascal Lemaître's illustrations are minimalist and convey the simple moral of this story.

Leon and Bob (1997)

 Leon and Bob by Simon James (1997) is an adorable story about an imaginary friend. Young Leon's dad is in the army. Leon and his mum move to a new town. Leon has an invisible friend named Bob. Bob has a seat at the kitchen table and Bob walks to school with Leon. Bon listens to Leon read aloud letters from his dad.  One day, a new young boy moves in next door and Leon invites him to the park to kick around a soccer ball. But on his way to this new neighbor's house, Bob goes missing. "Leon sat down. He was all alone. . .Why wasn't Bob there to help him?" Leon does stand up, press his new friend's doorbell, and go off to the park. 

Common Ground (1997)

 Common Ground: theWater, Earth, and Air We Share by Molly Bang (1997) is a plea to readers to beware of using up the earth's resources. It begins with a little history; "Long ago, a village was built around a commons." This common ground belonged to everyone in the village. All residents had the privilege of grazing their sheep on the common ground. However, this became unfair when owners with more sheep used more of the land than owners with few, or no sheep at all. Eventually, the common area was grazed into oblivion. Some people moved away. Bang uses this story an an analogy when describing how oceans are over fished, forests are felled, and fossil fuels are extracted. "So then, here is our common question: . . . what will stop us from destroying our whole world--our common ground?" It's a frightening book when I think about how powerless young children may feel. 

*Round Trip (1983)

 *Round Trip by Ann Jonas (1983) is a clever little book. The illustrations are 2-page, black and white silhouettes. This is a story about a road trip. After reaching the final page YOU TURN THE BOOK UPSIDE DOWN TO READ THE SECOND HALF OF THE STORY. The landscapes apparent in the first half of the story also make visual sense as the book is read from back to front, upside down. 

Chanticleer and the Fox (1948, 1958)

 Chanticleer and the Fox: adapted from the Canterbury Tales and Illustrated by Barbara Cooney (1958) is a story about a trickster fox. Chanticleer is a rooster that lives on a small farm. One night, he has a dream of danger. Alas, this danger appears in the form of a sly fox. The fox allays Chanticleer's fear with flattery. "Except for you I have never heard anyone who could sing as your father did in the morning," says the fox, and instructs its prey to close its eyes and stretch its neck to produce the best song possible. Of couirse the fox pounces and carries the rooster off. This tale ends with a wiser rooster. Chanticleer escapes--this time. 

What to Bring (2023)

What to Bring by Lorna Schultz Nicholson (2023) is a story for our current times. Malia smells smoke. Far in the distance are huge white-and-gray clouds. Two pages in flames appear on the horizon. Milia's father comes home from work, "and it isn't even dinnertime." Her family must evacuate. Mommy and Daddy are kind as they repeatedly inform Malia that she can't bring so many of her toys with her when they leave. She creates a pile of stuffed animals, pillows, blankets, and books. That's too many. She can choose only three things. The moral of the story is only implied. Ellen Rooney shows us that Malia put her her plush Rabbit and Turtle in her back pack, but we never learn what it is she whispers to her mother. The final image shows the family arriving at an unidentified home and the text reads, "Malia knows she brought what is important." What, exactly?

Pamela Camel (1984)

Pamela Camel by Bill Peet (1984) is another of his stories about coping with a life changing event. Pamela is a disrespected camel in the Brinkerhoff Brothers Big Top Circus. She could never do "something clever or sensational to excite the crowds." Consequently, she's just an ordinary camel that stands beside other animals for visitors to look at. Sadly, she's ridiculed; she's called bad-tempered, stupid, and dumb. One day, she walks away from circus life. She has no idea where to go, so she walks down a railroad track. When she comes upon a break in the track, she worries. She knows that a train will wreck on such a break. Toss in a thunderstorm and nightfall to keep Pamela close by. Then Peet gives Pamela conviction and courage. Here comes a train. What will she do? Her actions cause her to become the star of the circus show.