BIBI STEPS OUT!

A community comes together to repair a neglected old trail.

It’s springtime, and Bibi Bernstein and her neighbors on Longview Lane are taking in the sun. Shy Bibi seeks out her favorite place: the Old Rail Trail. Once covered by train tracks, the area was subsequently paved over and abandoned. Bibi finds the cracked trail and nearby litter-filled stream “dirty but peaceful,” since no one is ever around…at least not usually. But when she runs into Mr. Fogelman and Mrs. Lin, they ask if she can make a poster for their “Step Out! Step Up!” project—an effort to transform the path into a welcoming space. Backmatter explains that the story is rooted in the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, or “repairing the world.” The Hebrew words are displayed over Mr. Fogelman’s garage. Accompanied by Hale’s appealing, pastel-hued, collagelike illustrations, this message-driven tale showcases an idyllic community. The narrative is grounded by Bibi’s shyness and hesitations; Schotter emphasizes that everyone can contribute to bettering the world in their own special way, though the concluding text that encourages readers to join in when hearing a community call to action (“don’t be shy…Step out and step up!”) somewhat undermines the empathetic portrayal of timidity. Bibi is pale-skinned; her neighbors vary in skin tone.

A solid story of community togetherness, featuring especially lovely visuals.