"May could hear a voice calling from the back
door, but she lay very still in the cool grass and
watched a tiny shiny ladybug scuttle across her
hand. Its little legs felt comforting on her skin."
Is any day a good time to add a new book to your basket that features tales about the first day of school? I think it might be; so, I am sharing this one with you today.
May is experiencing butterflies in her tummy. They make it hard for her to think about breakfast. Those butterflies most often happen when she is worrying about something important. She likes to think about her worries in the garden. It isn't the first time that May has worried. Today, she is not as brave as she would like to be.
While lying in the grass, she can hear her mother's voice calling to her. She would like to stay and appreciate the peace of nature. She watches the bees, tells her worries to the goldfish in the pond. The bubbles emanating from the listening goldfish seem to offer good advice for dealing with this day.
May is not yet ready to return to Mama. Perhaps by being active, the butterflies will go. May tries; it makes no difference. When Mama finds her, May admits to having butterflies. Mama is full of love and good advice.
"A tiny bird has to learn to fly."
"A frog has to learn to jump."
As they walk to school, May cannot rid herself of those butterflies. Reaching the schoolyard helps her see that she is not the only one feeling as she does. Meeting her teacher, Miss Bell, and seeing the other children in the classroom give her the confidence she needs, and a new friend.
Gentle scenes are created using watercolor, collage, crayons, and colored pencil. Carefully-chosen colors reflects the mood throughout. A reassuring look at a common cause for concern for many young children.
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