Under Anna's Umbrella, written by Amanda Driscoll and illustrated by Luisa Uribe. Roccky Pond Books, Penguin Random House. 2025. $$24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"At home, Anna's umbrella worried her family. 
"I miss seeing your beautiful eyes," said her 
mother. "It looks weird," said her brother. 

But Anna could not let it go. 
Under her umbrella, Anna felt angry."

The book opens with a mother and her children at the scene of a funeral. It is raining; every person in attendance is holding an umbrella. Anna's is red which makes her the focus of the reader's attention. It is protecting Anna on that day, and she promises herself not to go nowhere without it. 

She keeps her word, wearing it to a ball game, in dance class, and at the movie theater. It keeps her safe. At home, it remains over her head. Her mother and brother show concern. Anna doesn't care. While holding a family photo when alone in her bedroom, she allows that the umbrella would not be needed if 'you were still here'. 

Under her umbrella, Anna feels angry, safe, sad, and the subject of unwanted attention when she is at school. Anna will not put it away. Sent to the back of the room where she will not be a distraction, Anna adds loneliness to what she is feeling. Then one day, while walking home from school in a storm, she notices a soaking wet boy. She invites him to join her under her umbrella. Henry accepts. In their escape from the pouring rain, the two talk. It is hard for Anna to show Henry all that she wants to show him. The umbrella is a problem for that. Soon, they are out from under the umbrella to float a boat, and catch raindrops on their tongues.  Feeling happier than she has in a long time, Anna walks home with the umbrella hooked to her backpack. 

It is likely that Anna has lost a parent; that is never revealed. It does not lessen the pain of her loss or leave readers with confusion about the grief she is feeling. Handling the sadness is done in a way that makes sense to the person experiencing it. A new friend helps Anna see a path forward. 

Soft digital illustrations make Anna's emotions clear, and encourage readers to feel empathy for her sadness. By spending time with a new friend and letting go of the umbrella that has been protecting her, she is able to let some light back into her days.