The Boy and the Giant

A boy learns the importance of accepting those who are different from him in this message-driven story by Litchfield (The Bear and the Piano). When a town’s residents struggle to complete the highest section of a mural welcoming visitors, a boy’s grandfather suggests that the shy local giant will come to the rescue, just as he has in the past, having previously saved the family from bears, storms, and other mishaps. “Those aren’t real—they’re just legends,” the boy scoffs. Predictably, on the very next morning, the boy interrupts the giant, who is working to complete the mural. Terrified, the boy races home. He instantly regrets his unfriendly behavior, and, determined to make things right, he and Grandad come up with a plan to reassure the giant that he’s a welcome member of the community. Though the dialogue feels overly purposeful, the text’s message of inclusion is valuable. What stand out most are the richly textured illustrations, which give readers an excuse to linger on each spread and try to spot the semi-hidden giant. Ages 4–8. [em](Nov.) [/em]