The Wrench, written and illustrated by Elise Gravel. Orca Book Publishers. 2020. $19.95 ages 4 and up

 

"I'm looking for a wrench," Bob said.
"A WRENCH? I've got THOUSANDS. of course! 
But a wrench? Really, how boring. I have something
much better for you. Why don't you buy this amazing
FRIDGE-HAT instead? It's perfect for keeping 
your head and your food cool all day long!"
"Nice," Bob said."

Have you been visiting Megamart since the lockdown? Or have you discovered, as so many others have, that our perceived need for the accumulation for 'stuff' is one thing that has changed since it's been harder to get out and 'shop'. Being at home certainly has people thinking seriously about just how much it is we really need. 

Elise Gravel's message to her young audience is a gentler way of pointing out what having too much looks like. She handles a touchy subject with humor and concern, while showing readers how what we have and want we want to have are two very different things. Bob sets out to find a wrench to fix his broken bike. He is sure he has one; a careful search does not solve his problem. Off he goes to buy a new one! 

Heading straight to Megamart, the home of ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, should get him what he needs. As happens, he is agog at all there is to see, and then bamboozled by a forceful salesman. Instead of the wrench, Bob goes home with a FRIDGE-HAT, then MUSICAL PAJAMAS and finally a SCREAMING MACHINE! His friends are never impressed with the ridiculous purchases he has made, and repetitively remind him about the reason for his shopping. He has no wrench! 

With each new purchase now stored in a cupboard, Bob realizes he has no money left to purchase the one thing he knows he needs. A search through a very-full closet of unused junk occurs; guess what he finds. Tada! The bicycle is back in running order. Bob doesn't t need a wrench after all. 

Observant readers will get a kick out of seeing all of those unnecessary purchases that fall from the cupboard and bonk Bob on the head. They will be able to find them again when they have a close look at the endpapers. Gravel uses humor and a fun story to bring up an important lesson for parents and their kids.