Bros

PreS-Gr 1–It is a green and clear day to be outside with friends, daring, pretending, learning, and doing what children do best: using their imagination. For these five Black children, having fun also means going to the library, caring for plants, supporting one another, and welcoming all friends, even when one is using a wheelchair. Weatherford’s straightforward narrative, barely two words per page, is organized through the pronoun “we,” followed by various verbs representing the children’s actions during playtime. The illustrations evoke pointillism, emphasizing the flowery and green ground and a clear sky that is inviting for outdoor activities and whose color changes to denote the passing of hours during a day’s play. This picture book is driven by its art, with images of expressive and happy children—no adults—in an idyllic landscape. These children are in contact with nature, books, and all the activities that friendship inspires. This book could be read in a first grade unit on present tense simple verbs or a preschool story hour on friendship.