Come With Me

July 3, 2017
In the wake of so much news about “anger and hatred—/ People against people,” a girl asks her parents what she can do to help the world. “Come with me,” each tells her, a simple phrase that McGhee (Matylda, Bright and Tender) transforms into an emotionally rich proclamation about not giving into fear. When the girl and her father ride the subway, a tense mood prevails; commuters are giving each other anxious glances. But the two tip their hats in greeting to their fellow passengers and know that their ride has “won a tiny battle/ over fear.” Next, the girl and her mother make a point of shopping at the grocery store in their multicultural neighborhood, “because one person/ doesn’t represent a family/ or a race/ or the people of a land.” By the final page, the girl feels reassured enough to extend the title’s invitation to readers. Lemaître’s (You Are the Pea, and I Am the Carrot) ink-and-watercolor cartoons resonate with a sweet plaintiveness, and while the brief text can sometimes turn overly earnest, it feels like an important first step. Ages 5–8. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties.

July 15, 2017
How can one person make a difference?A girl, frightened by what she sees on the news, asks her father, a white man, what to do to make the world a better place. Appealing watercolor-and-ink illustrations portray their resulting walk to the subway as they say hello to passers-by and, in doing so, win "a tiny battle over fear for themselves and for the people of the world." Next, the girl asks her mother, a brown-skinned woman, and together, the two shop for dinner, because "one person doesn't represent a family or a race or the people of a land." Finally, the biracial girl asks to walk her dog. Her parents allow her to do this alone, their message to the world that they don't want to "live in fear." The girl and her dog walk with a neighbor boy (who is black), because "two people together are stronger than one." The story concludes with the idea that to improve the world, one need only carry on and be kind, and the result feels superficial and treacly; the characters essentially receive praise for recognizing that human connections are important, and the girl, eager to make some sort of a difference in the world, never finds out about any further options or ideas. World events may be difficult for both adults and children to process or comprehend, but this well-intentioned selection fails to offer much beyond self-congratulation. A look at fear from a privileged perspective. (Picture book. 3-8)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-Sweet pastel illustrations are the highlight of this story that has potential but may be more confusing to children than confidence-building. A young girl is fearful due to the "anger and hatred-people against people" that she watches on the nightly news. After inquiring what "she could do to make the world a better place," Papa says, "Come with me." They take a ride on the subway, tip their hats to people they encounter, and make their way to their destination. The text states "The girl and her papa were brave and kind, and that day won a tiny battle over fear for themselves and for the people of the world." That sort of impassioned language to describe seemingly ordinary actions will require more explanation than the book provides. Still wanting to make a difference, the girl asks to walk their dog. Her parents appear concerned about letting their daughter go, but she and a neighbor boy venture out and "their part mattered to the world." Though the parents seem anxious about their child's safety, they allow her to watch disturbing incidents on TV with no supervision or discussion. VERDICT Teaching children that they can make a difference by being "brave, gentle, strong - and kind" in their daily lives is a powerful message. This title could be used with others to spark those important discussions with children and adults.-Maryann H. Owen, Children's Literature Specialist, Mt. Pleasant, WI

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.