If you were to give someone a single gift — something they'd never asked for before, but that you know they would treasure — what would it be? This is the question posed by a teacher to their students in this book, and their answers make up the chapters.
The teacher lays out guidelines. Students draw from a hat either family member, friend, or "?" — an "other" category for someone who has left a strong impression on them but who doesn't fit as relative or friend: for instance a neighbor, a coach, or a grocer. Most students share their writings aloud and receive support from classmates, but all have permission to turn in their stories as journal entries instead, if what they want to share feels private. A bouquet of distinct voices emerges, all following the class motto: "We protect, affect, respect one another!"
Angel drew "Family," and she writes about her cousin Edwin, who misses his mom — her Aunt Dee, in the army, stationed in Germany. She would give her Edwin the gift of a surprise visit home from his mom. "I bet his face would be the best thing I ever saw in my life. And her face, too."
David, who drew "Friend," has been talking with a guy he sees in the park every day, drawn together by the guy's dog:
"I can't explain it, but it's like dogs got some kind of
secret power that makes it easier to talk to people.
Like they want the whole world to be friends with each other."
He will give to this dog the toys left behind by his Prince, his dog who died and whom he achingly misses.
May drew a question mark and chooses to write about the owners of a little shop in her building who are always at work and have long taken care of her and trusted her. They work constantly, and she wishes she could give them a vacation: "Even if they don't leave town, they could sleep in. ..."
The many answers range from touching to funny to clever, but every single one has much thought and heart behind it. Taken together, they lead readers to consider the people in their own sphere: What makes them unique; what are their true longings? These reflections strengthen empathy and compassion.
Linda Sue Park is a Newbery Medal winner, a #1 New York Times bestseller, and renowned author of many picture books and novels for young readers. Robert Sae-Heng's illustrations black-and-white illustrations include child-like touches (for instance, birds as Vs in the sky) and add both whimsy and important touch points for the varied stories, which are written for readers ages eight to 12.
