JUST US TWO

A parent watches a little one grow.

A squirrel and its offspring, both with bushy tails and sharp, eager eyes, scamper through the forest together. Love and tenderness shine through Dodd’s reassuring, affectionate text, written from the parent’s perspective: “With you here right next to me, / there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” The parent passes down knowledge (how to choose the best acorns, and the best spot to hide them) but also recognizes that “I’ll learn more as I watch you grow.” Independence is also celebrated: “Sometimes it’s good to be alone, / enjoying adventures on your own.” (The youngster leaps bravely from a tall tree.) Of course, Dodd always comes right back to love: “Yet if you want me by your side, / I’ll be right there, arms open wide!” Muted golds, greens, and oranges dot the autumnal palette, and the squirrels are adorably pudgy and huggable. Through sunny days or stormy ones, the two will face everything together. Focused so heavily on a singular pair—no other caregiver is referenced—this could be a particularly poignant ode to family life for a single-parent household.

A sweet and loving reminder that time together is truly something to treasure.