On Our Way! What a Day!

PreS-Gr 2–Six grandkids are headed to Gram’s for her special birthday. As they get ready, they realize they don’t have a gift for her, but maybe they’ll find one on the way there. The kids find all types of things that they want: a scratchy-scratchy pine cone, three jingly jangly quarters, and some tippy-tappy pencils. They think Gram won’t like these things, but when they use them to make music, it’s a gift Gram loves. This picture book appears simple with a few lines on each page, but these lines carry a musical quality with rhythm, repetition, and descriptive imagery. Music also plays a role in the vibrant illustrations, where musical notes, musical instruments, and references to performances are sprinkled throughout. Readers will love the lesson: at first, the kids seem as if they’re distracted from their task of getting Gram a present. It isn’t until they use their gifts together that they realize the beauty in joining to create something that none of them could have made on their own. Characters have varied skin tones, hair textures, and hairstyles; overall this becomes a glorious reminder of the diversity found in a community and in a family.