Come With Me - Hardcover

McGhee, Holly M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1524739057 ISBN 13: 9781524739058

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2017

Synopsis

“Together, the words and pictures work seamlessly to deliver a powerful message: What we do matters.”—R. J. Palacio, The New York Times
 
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.
 
In this lyrical and timely story, author Holly M. McGhee and illustrator Pascal Lemaître champion the power of kindness, bravery, and friendship in the face of uncertainty.

About this title

About the Author:

Holly M. McGhee is the author of the middle-grade novel, Matylda, Bright & Tender. She has also written picture books and a chapter-book series under the pen name Hallie Durand, including Mitchell's License and Mitchell Goes Bowling. A literary agent too, she lives with her family in Maplewood, New Jersey. You can visit her at hollymcghee.com.

Pascal Lemaître is the illustrator of several books for children, including Do Not Open This Book! and the New York Times bestseller Who's Got Game? His wife is the dancer-choreographer Emmanuèle Phuon and their daughter, Maëlle, walks their dog, Doodle . . .  sometimes. You can visit him at pascallemaitre.com.

From School Library Journal:

K-Gr 2—Sweet pastel illustrations are the highlight of this story that has potential but may be more confusing to children than confidence-building. A young girl is fearful due to the "anger and hatred—people against people" that she watches on the nightly news. After inquiring what "she could do to make the world a better place," Papa says, "Come with me." They take a ride on the subway, tip their hats to people they encounter, and make their way to their destination. The text states "The girl and her papa were brave and kind, and that day won a tiny battle over fear for themselves and for the people of the world." That sort of impassioned language to describe seemingly ordinary actions will require more explanation than the book provides. Still wanting to make a difference, the girl asks to walk their dog. Her parents appear concerned about letting their daughter go, but she and a neighbor boy venture out and "their part mattered to the world." Though the parents seem anxious about their child's safety, they allow her to watch disturbing incidents on TV with no supervision or discussion. VERDICT Teaching children that they can make a difference by being "brave, gentle, strong — and kind" in their daily lives is a powerful message. This title could be used with others to spark those important discussions with children and adults.—Maryann H. Owen, Children's Literature Specialist, Mt. Pleasant, WI

About this edition

• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1524739057
• ISBN 13: 9781524739058
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Lemaître Pascal