but you can see it.
It makes rivers and oceans,
clouds and rain and snow.
Fish live in water.
They flash like jewels.
Everyone needs water.
Only water knows
how to be water."
Ms. Murphy begins with trees, letting her young readers know what makes a tree so special. She reminds them that nothing else knows how to be a tree; only a tree does. Turning from the tree itself to a nest home made by birds, she then reminds that only birds can do the things they do.
As the words move from page to page, she talks about dogs, water, fish, even our Earth. There is no other planet like it, as far as we know. Eveything here is its own unique being, and each is different from every other thing. She turns finally to people. We number in the billions.
"We eat and talk,
sing and walk.
We work. We play. We tell stories.
Every person
has their own thoughts
in their head
and their own feelings
in their heart."
That is the way the world works. What wonder is there in that!
The bright and childlike artwork was drawn in brush and ink, then rendered digitally to evoke a lively and affirming mood for the inspiring and reassuring text. The children pictured move freely across each spread, showing diversity in color, culture, and ability. Visual literacy leads to animated conversation, and close observation at every turn of the page.
Quiet message received and appreciated, with thanks.
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