I Walk With Vanessa: A Story About A Simple Act of Kindness, by Kerascoet. Schwartz and Wade Books, Penguin Random House. 2018. $23.99 all ages

A new home.

A new school.

A new classroom.

Loneliness.

A bully.

We were talking about bullying at lunch today. It never goes away, does it? We all wish there was an simple solution to a problem that is generations old! I think that picture books can have a huge impact. In our rush to get 'everything' done in families and in classrooms, have we forgotten that kids need to sit and listen to books that help them understand how others feel, and how to make changes when they see something they don't like? How I wish we did not need to see such an uptick in the number of books being published that have kindness at the heart of the story.

In saying that, there are a growing number of books that encourage thoughtful consideration of others, and offer ways that even the very young can help to make a real difference. That is why I wanted to share this charming new book with you.

There are no words, and none are needed. Inspired by real events, it presents readers with a new girl in school, Vanessa. We watch as her family moves their belongings into a new home. Then, are with her as she attends her first day. She is obviously nervous and that is reflected in her looking down, sitting alone in the gym while others play basketball, and walking alone at the end of the day. On her way home, she is bullied by one of her classmates. Scared and alone, she rushes home.

In the following set of images, we see that one little girl has noticed what happened. She sadly watches Vanessa as she runs inside. She tells the friends she is with, and  they all head home, sadness etched on their faces and in their demeanor. She is bothered enough that her evening is miserable and so is bedtime.

In the early morning as the family prepares for the coming day, she has an idea and rushes off to knock on Vanessa's door and walk with her to school. Hand in hand, they meet many other children as they go - every one of them joining in to make Vanessa feel welcome. The crowd grows until only one child is left out of the group gathered to begin another school day.

There is no need for words. The message is clear - together, we can change our community and in time, the world! That's a procession I want to join.

Simple and powerful, expressive and uplifting.

I love the endpapers, and the center spread that shows how both girls are feeling that first night!