Amy's Three Best Things

PreS-Gr 1—Amy is independent enough to request an overnight at Grandma's house. "Of course I'm sure…In fact, I'll stay two nights. No, I'll stay three." Fortunately, Amy has the foresight to pack, along with all the normal stuff, her three best things. Each day after she has a wonderful time with her grandma, she wakes up thinking about her mother, brother, and dog. When she feels homesick, she takes out one of her three best things, and each object takes her on a magical journey to her home, where she is reassured by finding everyone in their rightful places. On the final night she misses her family too much and is unable to self-soothe through her magical journey, finding her home dark and empty. Fortunately, they have come to retrieve her earlier than expected and her mother appears just when she is needed most. The lightly colored pencil drawings are gentle and sweet, and bring to mind the imaginative nighttime journeys of other picture-book characters like Max and Mickey. Pearce paces the story expertly, telling readers that Amy has packed three special things, but not revealing what they are until they are needed. While the story is too whimsical to be used as bibliotherapy for children experiencing separation anxiety, it is a deeply reassuring tale about the nature of family and unconditional love. A lovely choice for one-on-one reading.—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, White Bear Lake, MN