Keeping Things Going (Family Heroes)

Narrated by a multiracial group of children from the first-person perspective, Evans’s simple rhyming text (“My parents serve the public,/ make the world a better place./ And when they can help others,/ they will in every case”) pairs with Tikkou’s digital illustrations to showcase inclusivity in both the heroes’ professions and appearances. Jobs traditionally considered high-risk (police officer, firefighter) are highlighted, as are public-facing professions (teacher, mail carrier) and volunteer work both abroad and domestic. Tikkou features people of color in every spread, employing a childlike style with layered, colored pencil–like textures, though the book’s repetitive structure seems to emphasize parental units as solely “mommies” and “daddies.” An uplifting reminder for kids to appreciate the heroes in their own families. Ages 3–7. [em](Mar.) [/em]