THE TRIPLETS MEET THE NEW KID

Triplets are reminded of a valuable lesson when a new student joins their class in Cotty and Ipsan’s picture book.

Nina, Nancy, and NoNo may be triplets, but they’re certainly not all the same. One day, the sisters, who all have pale skin, hop on the bus to their first grade classroom, excited at the prospect of a new student joining their cohort. NoNo is apprehensive, so when the teacher, Mrs. Carver, introduces the recent arrival, Mia, she isn’t very willing to accept her. Several of the boys immediately bully Mia about her glasses, and NoNo joins in. After Mrs. Carver demands that the class apologize, Nina is the only sister—and, in fact, the only student—to help Mia safely to her seat. The triplets tell their parents about the incident at their family dinner, prompting their father to remind them of an important lesson: “That’s right, Treat Everyone Kindly, no matter who they are or what they look like.” The authors and illustrator hide the letters TEK on each page and ask their readers to find them; the “I Spy” game may excite a preschool audience once they realize the letters stand for “Treat Everyone Kindly.” Rekers’ mostly full-bleed illustrations immerse readers in the triplets’ world, using calm colors to evoke a mood of contemplation.

A brief but useful reminder to be kind.