WHAT TO BRING

How do you decide what’s most important?

Malia, a young girl with a dark brown bob, is playing in her sandbox near her mother and younger brother when she notices a cloud of smoke. Then a brown-skinned woman in a yellow vest stops by, Malia’s father comes home early from work, and it’s clear that something is wrong. A fire has broken out in the nearby hills, and the family is going to have to leave. Colorful, digitally rendered spreads show Malia in her warm and cozy home as the family packs. Malia wants to bring something, too, but she can’t decide what to choose—her sandbox, her favorite stuffed animals, tons of books? Daddy suggests, “Pick small toys. Things important to you.” Mama limits her to three things and tells her, “Put the rest in your heart.” The text doesn’t share Malia’s choices, but we see her two favorite stuffed animals peeking out of her backpack. And as Malia walks from the car to Grandpa’s house, the accompanying image, of her family in silhouette, makes it clear what the most vital thing of all is. Reassuring to children facing a similar situation, this selection also offers a subtle, heartfelt message to all about the importance of family that young listeners can discuss. Malia and her family are tan-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A straightforward and comforting exploration of an emergency evacuation.