ONE THURSDAY AFTERNOON

Listening can make a difference.

Ava is waiting at school for her grandfather; they are going out to paint and picnic together, but Ava seems upset. Granddad allows her to open up at her own pace. Eventually Ava reveals that there was a lockdown drill at school, and she is feeling disturbed because she thought school already was safe. Granddad tells her about the “duck and cover” drills of his childhood. Confiding that sometimes he’s afraid, too, he reminds her that “even though the world is scary, it’s also a beautiful place,” and Ava feels a little better. Appealing and calming illustrations show the two reflecting and talking in a wooded area with a pond and ducks as they paint. When Ava’s fears arise again, she mentions what she’s seen on the news about schools. Granddad commiserates and lets her know that whether the world is “scary or beautiful or both,” he is “here to listen.” Adults may learn a trick or two from Granddad’s model of patience, acceptance, communication, and support, while sensitive children will see they are not alone and that it’s OK to feel upset. Granddad and Ava are brown-skinned, and the opening spread at Ava’s school depicts characters with Black and brown skin and a child who uses a wheelchair. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sweet, specific, and straightforward tale of dealing with good and bad in the world.