When the news reports are flooded with tales of hatred and fear, a girl asks her papa what she can do to make the world a better place. “Come with me,” he says. Hand-in-hand, they walk to the subway, tipping their hats to those they meet. The next day, the girl asks her mama what she can do—her mama says, “Come with me,” and together they set out for the grocery, because one person doesn’t represent an entire race or the people of a land. After dinner that night, the little girl asks if she can do something of her own—walk the dog . . . and her parents let her go. “Come with me,” the girl tells the boy across the hall. Walking together, one step at a time, the girl and the boy begin to see that as small and insignificant as their part may seem, it matters to the world.
Holly M. McGhee is a writer, literary agent, and has been a lifelong lover of words and pictures. She has written under the pen name of Hallie Durand, while also writing the picture books Mitchell’s License, Mitchell Goes Blowing, as well as a chapter book series. She currently resides with her family, her antisocial dog, and her two leopard geckos in New Jersey.
Read Aloud Tips
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Introduce the book by having the students describe a time when they experienced fear and what they did to overcome it.
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Go through the pictures and have students predict what happens next.
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Use this book to encourage students’ comfortability with discussing relevant news reports and current events.
Together, the words and pictures work seamlessly to deliver a powerful message: What we do matters. –The New York Times