PEANUT’S EMERGENCY

Peanut, a young African-American girl, gets a lesson in emergency management. Peanut’s mother doesn’t arrive to take her home from school. She is grouchy and not a little spooked. She looks for her emergency money zipped into her sneakers to make a phone call, but remembers she spent it on cupcakes. While she is pondering what to do, a stranger asks her to come help him find his lost dog. Peanut remembers that she is not to talk to strangers, so she heads for the coffee shop where she knows the owner, Mrs. Yee. They call Peanut’s home, but there is no answer. Peanut feels “icy silver sad” and when it comes time to close the shop, Mrs. Yee tells Peanut she can come home with her. Peanut says she cannot go to anyone’s house without telling her mother. They are about to call the police—Peanut now feeling “queasy-orange-sick-to-my-stomach worried”—when Mrs. Yee tries Peanut’s home once more and her mom answers (the car broke down). Though she did spend her emergency money on cupcakes and also wandered away from school, her family sings Peanut’s praises for avoiding strangers, getting help, and for being brave and keeping her head. It’s emergency enough any time little kids are left to their own devices, but it will likely happen and this safety primer should help keep the boogies at bay. A list of safety rules is attached to the jacket and can be retrieved from the publisher’s Web site as well. (Picture book. 4-7)