I Forgive Alex: A Simple Story About Understanding

Like Kerascoët's I Walk with Vanessa, this wordless story unfolds in a busy schoolyard where small children navigate a conflict with compassion. During recess, a pink-skinned youth sets treasured drawings on a schoolyard bench while a lively game of basketball goes on nearby. Dribbling and dodging without making a pass, a red-haired, pale-skinned child--presumably Alex--sends the basketball sailing right onto the bench, tumbling the drawings into a puddle and ruining them. In a series of affecting vignettes that move from the playground to the classroom and lunchroom, the pupils, depicted with varying skin tones, throng the victim with sympathy and shun Alex--until, at end of day, the artist approaches Alex, and the two make amends. Almost no adults are involved in this slow-burn portrait of regret and forgiveness, and the children's tiny figures and comical expressions sweeten the tale's tricky emotional encounters. Back matter offers "What to Do" lists for "When You Hurt Someone" and "If You Are the Person Who Was Hurt," drawing the story's events closer to the real world and making difficult words seem easier to say. Ages 4-8. Agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Productions. (July)

PreS-Gr 2--The authors known collectively as Kerascoët (I Walk with Vanessa) here provide a stunning wordless guidebook to the steps toward understanding and forgiveness. Bright watercolors, mood, facial expressions, and body language convey the various emotions that play out among students outside during recess. With smiles on their faces, they participate in various games such as basketball, marbles, and splashing through puddles. Groups of friends are engaged in their own activities until a red-haired child, Alex, carelessly dribbles a basketball and launches it into the air, accidentally ruining another student's art project. Shock and fear appear on each child's face and the focus is then on Alex, on the wrong end of angry stares from the other classmates. His joy turns to sadness and then embarrassment once he realizes what he has done, and he finds himself excluded from after-school playtime. His remorse is clearly shown. The art project's owner is the first to approach Alex, and the others follow. The next day, Alex tries to make up for his carelessness with a gift; a picture of Alex and his new buddy playing basketball with big smiles on their faces. At the end of the story are suggestions for adults helping children navigate these difficult, necessary choices. VERDICT A wonderful lesson in forgiveness and inclusion, and a fine choice for independent circulation.--Kerra Mazzariello