THE LITTLE RED STROLLER

An inclusive picture book that celebrates sharing, connecting, variety, and community.

A stroller can provide convenience, transportation, and comfort for little ones and caregivers alike. The titular red stroller carries a young girl named Luna to school and the playground, as well as on weekend errands that include yummy pizza. When Luna outgrows the stroller, her mother passes it on to her neighbors. The stroller is next shared with a little girl and her father who visit her grandfather. Among the stroller’s owners are caregivers who are interracial, same-sex, Muslim, South Asian, single, and more, along with children who are multiracial and (probably) adopted, each depicted uniquely, with a wide variety of skin colors, body shapes, hairstyles, etc. The stroller-sharing device becomes a bit tedious (it changes hands nine times before it falls apart, to be replaced with a newer yellow stroller). Nevertheless, in today’s divisive society, this book’s message—however heavy-handed it might be—bears emphasizing. Wu’s bright, digital art offers a multitude of tiny details to discover, and sharp-eyed readers will find a series of colorful dots to help them follow the stroller’s travels. Vivid colors evoke the happiness the characters feel as they look out for one another.

Pair an array of characters that vary in gender, color, age, religion, size, and shape with a variety of settings, and you have a powerful message of inclusivity and diversity.