The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (1936) has been a favorite for a long time! The drawings by Robert Lawson are equal to the text in their expressive simplicity. Every page has lots of white space, giving the printed words and black-and-white drawings powerful effect. Ferdinand is a peaceful, solitary bull from day one. He’s born this way. While his peers are culturally appropriate (running, jumping, and butting their heads) Ferdinand walks to a distant tree to sit and smell the flowers. I love that his mother is concerned, but respects his nature. Accidents happen in life, and so it is that Ferdinand finds himself in the bullring. Ferdinand is Ferdinand, despite this setting.
