This book won us over from the moment we saw its title, because who isn't a little unsure what to do at times, maybe especially these days? We were not in the least disappointed once we opened the covers. Davina Bell, who hails from Melbourne, Australia, provides simple wisdom that's hugely reassuring. Here are two samples:
- "Greet precious things gently."
- "Starting can be the hardest part."
New Zealand illustrator Hilary Jean Tapper, alongside, shows us with her watercolors:
- ... a kneeling mother, her expression full of wonder and tenderness, holding out her young baby for a new sibling to touch.
- ... a child with a blank canvass looking at other children eagerly splodging paint on their canvasses.
Some pages have humor thrown in. "Even if you really want to ... it might not be the best idea" shows a girl dancing and leaping from seat to seat on a bus, with other passengers looking on with alarm. Um, yes, not so advisable! Others reflect change over time. "It might not be how you imagined ... at first" shows a boy reluctant to splash in the ocean with other children. On the next pages we see him half immersed, among the others, delicious delight on his face.
Readers receive some gently given tips that could come in handy for safety reasons, such as don't leave home without telling someone and stay put if you're lost so that someone can find you. They also get etiquette cues, like asking before grabbing a fresh-from-the-oven cookie. (The latter could also be a safety tip!).
Children younger than four to eight (the designated "reading age") and anyone older who has a receptive heart will come away from What to Do with more insight, some soul healing, and a fresh appreciation for life.
