A Good Trade

Patkau (One Watermelon Seed) offers simple yet soulful digital collages that gracefully supplement Fullerton's (Libertad) understated storytelling in this book set in a Ugandan village. Nature plays an uplifting role: the opening spread reveals a single sunny poppy at close range, "white in a sea of green"; the early morning sky is ablaze with color; and cows graze peacefully. Yet the shadows cast by war, never mentioned explicitly, are dark: two rifle-wielding soldiers guard fields, and one child has a prosthetic leg. Upon returning from the village well, a boy named Kato peers into an aid worker's truck that is filled with brightly colored items--Kato knows what they are, but Patkau only gives readers a couple of clues. Kato clearly appreciates what he sees, and he plucks the white poppy to give to the aid worker, who distributes her cargo of new shoes to Kato and other ecstatic children. The double gesture of kindness--the good trade--projects a strong spirit of generosity and gratitude, traits as universal as the appeal of a gift of cool new sneakers. Ages 5-up. (Mar.)

Gr 1-3--Kato, a young Ugandan boy, serves his family by filling jerry cans with a day's worth of water each morning. His journey to the borehole takes him down hills, past cattle fields, and by soldiers standing guard. On this particular day, he pauses on his way back into town to peek inside an aid worker's truck and sees that it is filled with shoes. While finishing his chores, he finds a white poppy in the field and picks it for the aid worker who gives the village children new shoes, the "good trade" of the title. The illustrations are bright and geometric, computer-generated but quite textural, appearing almost mixed media. The large images are full of subtle details that show the lifestyle and daily activities common in the small, lush village. The text is spare and poetic and the pictures capture the tone and supply the bulk of the information. Young readers will enjoy this sweet day-in-the-life snapshot.--Jennifer Miskec, Longwood University, Farmville, VA

About A Good Trade

2014 OLA Blue Spruce Award finalist

2014 White Ravens selection

2015 Kentucky Blue Grass Awards shortlist

2013 Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award finalist

2014 Bank Street Best Books of the Year for Children and Young Adults selection

2013 OLA Best Bets selection

2013 Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens selection

STARRED REVIEW "A pleasure to read aloud...Expertly crafted, Fullerton's first picture book reminds readers of the pleasure of small things."—Kirkus Reviews Starred Review

"The double gesture of kindness - the good trade - projects a strong spirit of generosity and gratitude, traits as universal as the appeal of a gift of cool new sneakers."—Publishers Weekly

"The large images are full of subtle details...The text is spare and poetic...Young readers will enjoy this sweet day-in-the-life snapshot."—School Library Journal

"In this deceptively simple and positive story of a little boy's daily life in an African village, readers will discover subtle hints and overt references to the effects of civil war both in the quiet text and the brightly coloured digital illustrations. Thus the book will serve as a wonderful incentive to discuss this serious topic with younger and older children alike."—The White Ravens 2013 Catalogue

"The images and text of A Good Trade complement one another to the point of poetic consistency. The text and the images are both complex and simple: concept easy, content load heavy. The prose is lyrical, playful and inviting to young listeners or readers...Highly Recommended."—CM Magazine

"A Good Trade is an eloquently told, beautifully illustrated, and heartfelt story."—Resource Links Magazine

"There is much more to this gentle story than its obvious message about the hardships faced by others. The juxtaposition of happy children in a war-torn village, and the beautiful exchange between Kato and the aid worker, portray the endurance of childhood innocence, suggesting small joys can be found in imperfect places."—Quill & Quire

"The artwork is a perfect match for Fullerton's understated text. Together they provide an enriching insight into one boy's life in a distant country, and the preciousness of peace and goodwill. 'We Recommend'"—Canadian Children's Book News

"A good story to use when discussing life in rural Africa."—The International Educator

"The message here is clear, but delivered with a soft touch, reminding young readers that not everyone is as fortunate as they are."—CBC Here and Now Recommendations for Children's Books

"The beautiful pictures and the one-sentence-per-page provide great starting points for discussing life in Uganda, world help organizations, and inequity in general."—49th Shelf

"Overall, I liked A Good Trade, and believe that it can be used to launch a discussion about gratitude and what it's like to live in a third world country."—Musings of a YA Reader

"Alma Fullerton's text is rich, spare and beautifully crafted. Her narrative is strong and lyrical as she shares Kato's daily trip to get drinking water for his family....It addresses tough issues in a hopeful and age-appropriate manner and is an excellent read-aloud for the classroom....Karen Patkau's digitally rendered illustrations are colorful and lush. They work beautifully with the text and illuminate the message in the story."—Children's Books Heal