TOGETHER

From buttons to zippers to hugs, young children will learn the meaning of “together” in everyday life. Each color-filled spread features a different family, each of varying ethnicities, learning basic but important lessons with their young ones. As they go through their morning routines, children will learn that shoelaces are “what [keep] my feet from dancing out of my shoes” and elastics are “what [keep] my hair crissy-cross in its braid.” Although the color-pencil illustrations by Priestley come across as elementary at first glance, her graphics add warmth and a welcome simplicity. As each parent drops a child off at school, the different nationalities come together comfortably. Together the children learn and play, until the time comes when each family is reunited again. Undoubtedly, there are many valuable lessons to be learned from this story, but perhaps the most important is the idea that a hug is what keeps a family together when they’re apart—“one when we leave…and one when we’re all back together again.” (Picture book. 2-5)