#blogbookaday: Come With Me

Summary:  “When the news reports are flooded with tales of hatred and fear, a girl asks her papa what she can do to make the world a better place. “Come with me,” he says. Hand-in-hand, they walk to the subway, tipping their hats to those they meet. The next day, the girl asks her mama what she can do–her mama says, “Come with me,” and together they set out for the grocery, because one person doesn’t represent an entire race or the people of a land. After dinner that night, the little girl asks if she can do something of her own–walk the dog . . . and her parents let her go. “Come with me,” the girl tells the boy across the hall. Walking together, one step at a time, the girl and the boy begin to see that as small and insignificant as their part may seem, it matters to the world.” (Taken from Goodreads)

Review: I found this book to be a perfect book for the world we live in today. I don’t have children of my own, but I know that kids hear a lot more news that adults realize and I think this story could go a long way in creating a discussion with families about how you feel when listening to the news and the small part you play in your own community and how it affects everyone – like a ripple in a pond. I loved the diversity in this book, both by having a biracial child as the main character, but also in the supporting characters within the little girl’s community. As she finds out, it doesn’t have to be a HUGE thing, but in your own way, you can make a difference.

Personal Reaction: I’d love to promote this book to teachers and parents looking for a way to talk to their kids about the scary news that you hear every time you turn on the television or go online. This would make a great discussion for both younger children and older children alike and a discussion I think that would so helpful to have in a world where you feel like it can’t really get any worse and then the news often proves you wrong. This is definitely a powerful story and one that needs to be shared.

Title: Come With Me
Author: Holly M. McGhee
Illustrator: Pascal Lemaître
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 5, 2017

This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!