One Thursday Afternoon

by Barbara DiLorenzo

When Granddad picks Ava up from school one Thursday afternoon, she's quiet. She doesn't want to talk about the lockdown drill that has stirred up her worries.
How can she be so afraid in a place that has always felt so safe? Granddad doesn’t talk much either; he just offers creativity and companionship. And with his gentle encouragement, Ava begins to sense that although the world can be scary, it is still a beautiful place. With tender insight, One Thursday Afternoon sheds light on how an unpredictable world can make a child feel, reminding us that big fears can become smaller when we take time together to look, listen, and create. An author’s note about the story’s real-life inspiration and recommendations for how adults can help children overcome fear is included.
"Adults may learn a trick or two from Granddad’s model of patience, acceptance, communication, and support, while sensitive children will see they are not alone and that it’s OK to feel upset. . . . A sweet,specific, and straightforward tale of dealing with good and bad in the world." —Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, Fiction, Family, Mental Health, Realistic Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 6, 2022

About the author

Barbara DiLorenzo’s first picture book was Renato and the Lion, which received a starred review from Booklist and was named a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Junior Library Guild selection, and a CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. She is also the author and illustrator of Quincy: The Chameleon Who Couldn’t Blend In, a finalist for the Crystal Kite Award. Her forthcoming book, One Thursday Afternoon, will be released by Flyaway Books in September 2022 and was inspired by her own experience during an active lockdown at an elementary school. A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, she has taught at the Arts Council of Princeton, the Michener Art Museum, and the New York Institute of Art + Design. She lives with her family in central New Jersey and is represented by Rachel Orr of the Prospect Agency.
www.barbaradilorenzo.com

Reviews

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of bringing-up children in a way to let them learn how to overcome fear and every hurdle that they could face in their life. Ava was such a same girl who when faced the lockdown drill in her school for the first time, got confused for what to do and got scared too. She when picked up by her GrandPa from school on her way back home, told him whole story of the day and was encouraged by him to understand how this was just a thing in life one shouldn't be afraid of any such events. However, it was so hard to digest that the place you feel most safe becomes so vunerable at any moment and we must be ready for that.

This is an amazing story of resilience, bravery & companionship.

My NetGalley reviews: https://www.netgalley.com/book/252933...

[The Bibliophile Doctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and flyaway books for this amazing ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This is a sweet story of a girl Ava and her grand-dad. It's totally adorable and the illustrations are so pretty and pleasant to the eyes and the language is so easy to grasp for younger kids.

Sometimes you feel low and the best you can do is spending sometime with your loved ones or just spending it alone or outdoors. Anything that makes you feel better. The world is scary but it's beautiful too. It helps to remember that.

Highly recommend this beautiful book.

[MookNana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fact that this book even needs to exist...my heart is broken.

Ava leaves school feeling troubled but not ready to share what she's feeling. When her granddad picks her up (presumably advised by the school about what was happening that day) he takes her to the park and brings her painting supplies. With quiet support, he creates a safe space for her to tell him about the lockdown drill they had that day and how scared and uncertain it made her feel. He gently validates and reassures her, offering support and a listening ear any time she needs it. He encourages her to be mindful and use art to help process and express what she's feeling.

This would be a good resource to have on hand at school, on the bookshelves of school psychologists, and at home for kids who are exposed to lockdown drills. It would be a great conversation-starter and helpful reminder for kids that it's normal to find the experience disconcerting and that it's ok to express it. It's honest about the world we live in while also helping to soothe fears and anxieties.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Publishing date: September 2022

I love the spirit of this book. This picture book addressed the stress that young people must be in due to the idea of school shootings and the drills they must do to prepare for them. I think the execution of such a deep topic is not where it needs to be, however. I get that this is meant to open the door to communication and that most parents would like to have control of what they tell their children, but I still feel that there could have been more substance to this book. It doesn't need to go into detail on the subject, but it does need to be impactful. I don't think children will find this impactful and I also don't think it will make them question things. In that aspect, I do believe this book has failed in its objective. I do, however, give it points for trying this objective and I do think we need more books tackling this sensitive subject.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this picture book will definitely find its place in elementary schools. Especially prior to and/or after those first lockdown drills of the year. Though a bit simple and didactic, it still has value in validating kids' fears, letting them know they are loved & supported, and giving some ideas of coping strategies in the face of the fear/worry. These are important for their social emotional development and will carry through in other aspects of their lives.

[Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the concept of "One Thursday Afternoon". Ava was frightened after a school lockdown drill. Her grandpa picked her up from school and patiently waited until she was ready to talk about it.

I work in an elementary school. The day after I finished this book there was an email thread about students who were concerned about an active shooter in the school. We will also have our first lockdown drill tomorrow.

I believe this book can be a valuable resource for students, parents, educators, and counselors.

Source:. I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In our school systems today, many frightening occurrences are happening and students have to prepare. One way for students to prepare is a lockdown. This book reflects on what students maybe feeling during these preparations. It also gives encouragement to parents, grandparents, or caregivers to ease these anxious feelings our students may have.

A good conversation to have with your children on how to process these feelings.

A special thank you to Flyaway Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated, especially the birch trees. The story is straightforward and I would imagine, very helpful for parents assisting children in coping with difficult situations that are an unfortunate reality in our world.

Thank you to Flyaway Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book could be very helpful for letting kids know it's okay to talk about things that upset them. Very simply but vibrantly illustrated. Granddad does a good job of listening and validating and offering a comforting and familiar thing to do after and while talking.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Thursday Afternoon is a book with a couple of very different messages. Granddad goes to pick Ava up from school one afternoon and notices that she seems upset about something. Rather than pry, he goes about normal activities. They have a picnic by the water and then he gets out their painting supplies. Eventually she opens up about what is upsetting her. They had a lockdown at their school that day and she is frightened. What if something happens? Granddad lets her talk and share her feelings and he listens and validates them. He shares things from his life and lets her know that yes, there are scary things in the world, but that it is also beautiful and he will always be there for her. Once again, I enjoy sharing multi-cultural stories with my grandchildren. I enjoyed seeing the relationship Ava and her granddad have. I was a bit reluctant to share the lockdown part of the story, especially with all the school shootings that have happened over the last year, but is is a real part of life. We talked about the various drills they have at school. One thing that came out was how they didn't take them seriously as they had "drills" all the time. We discussed that you never know when it will be real and not just a drill so to always take them seriously. The illustrations added much to the story. They showed emotions as well as the beauty in the world. A great book for teachers to share with their students at the beginning of the school year, before they begin to have drills. I liked the things the author shared about what to do when your child is afraid of something. Too many people try to fluff it off and tell them they have nothing to be afraid of. Eventually they will stop sharing if their feelings aren't validated.

[Ashley Love Sellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Thursday Afternoon was such a touching book. I had to sit with my thoughts and emotions after reading it several times, because there's a lot to unpack here. Here's what I will say after much reflection:

This book is lovely, necessary, and touching. Ava's emotions after a lockdown drill are valid, relevant, and important to discuss, especially if you have small children of your own. This book made that seem like a slightly easier task (let's be honest - it's never going to be easy), and I appreciated having another tool in my belt for such difficult conversations. Ava's grandfather was a wonderful example of how adults can comfort and guide children through these tough issues and hard emotions, and I was thankful for that, as well.

School shootings and lockdown drills are hard topics to discuss with our children, but they are necessary. One Thursday Afternoon is a sweet, gentle book that I believe is a great resource for parents and kids alike. The material was handled well, and with sensitivity.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Granddad picks Ava up from school after a lockdown drill that day, she wants to go home and be alone. Granddad insists on having a picnic and bringing some painting some supplies. He offers quiet companionship while Ava processes her feelings. I never thought about Duck and Cover drills being similarly traumatizing as lockdown drills because I never experienced one or the possible threat of nuclear war during the Cold War. I hate that this book has to exist, but I'm so glad it does. Schools generally are a safe place, but more and more it doesn't seem like it. The author's note gives some direct tips that are used in the story: listen, talk when you are ready, companionship, being creative, or using your senses, especially outside. I highly recommend families or classrooms read this before a lockdown drill, especially the first lockdown drill, to remind children that they may feel a lot of emotions and it's okay to take time to process them.

[Gabrielle Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Thursday Afternoon is a heartwrenching book about a young girl dealing with her feelings that came along after having a lock down drill in her school. This book would be good for any parent of young children or any elementary classroom. These drills are commonplace in schools now and they can be very scary for young children. This book helps children to understand and work through their emotions related to lock down drills.

Thank you to Flyaway Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written with beauty and kindness, this picture book handles gently the fear school children face every day. Lockdown drills are becoming a part of school routine, but how do our kids feel once they realize their classroom is not the safe place they assumed it always would be? Grandad's example of patience and creativity offers a way for caregivers to know that sometimes the best response is just to listen.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was going to elementary school, we had atomic bomb drills. You know the kind, where you duck under the desk, and face away from the windows, because of course that will save you if they happened to drop the bomb while you were in class. Then, later, after the Sylmar quake, we had the same drills, but they were now for preparation in case there was an earthquake while we were in class.

In this picture book, the children do not have drills of things that could never happen, or that won’t help them, they have active shooter drives (known as lockdown drills in the book), where they have to hide in the and be very, very quiet and still. We don’t see the drill, in the story, we just have Ava being picked up after having experienced one, where he tries to help her feel better.

The author said she felt she had to write about this, after she spoke at a school where they had such a drill, and she could only imagine how terrifying it was for the children. Her gentle story talks about how bad things might happen, but in the meantime, there is a lot of good int he world.
It is too bad there is a need for such books, but I’m glad they are out there.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Jennifer Beard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book.

As a high school teacher, navigating scary subjects is extremely difficult. Although I would not use this picture book in class with my older students, the sentiment was beautiful.

As Ava deals with the aftermath of a lockdown drill, her grandfather provides support in helping Ava process her complicated feelings and gives her an outlet to express herself. This book would be a great asset to every elementary school classroom to help young students understand the importance of school safety drills and to learn how to process things that are scary for everyone.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfectly written book for children about what it feels like for a child to take part in active intruder/lockdown drills. It is a must-read for educators to read for themselves (especially the author's note!) and then to share with the children in their class. Also great for families. I love the granddad's advice about getting into nature, finding something beautiful, and breathing. Excellent for everyone!

[Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is gentle, but accurately teaches kids that lockdown drills and school violence can be scary, while still equipping readers with a few ideas of some coping skills. Even though the central topic of this book is tragic, I believe that the author did a stellar job of conveying to readers that there is still good out there. This message is more important now than ever, and I am glad that this book was written. Kudos to the illustrator as well for intertwining emotions and natural beauty in the illustrations, it fit the story perfectly. Lastly, I know for sure that kids will be able to find hope and comfort within the pages of this book, even when the looming issue of violence in schools is present.
Bravo!

[Daniele Kasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shish kebab. Do not read this book without tissues, like an entire box of them. Powerful, moving and poignant, Ava's story will grip you from the first page and keep you firmly in it's grasp until the very end. This book reflects on and affirms the anxiety a child may feel from all the horrible acts. Grandpa is unconditionally supportive and validates her fears, but also guides her through the journey as she navigates these new experiences. He reminds her that even though there is lots of bad in the world, there is so much beauty too. We must try and remember to focus on that.

It is heart wrenching and beautifully written as Ava struggles to come to terms with lockdown drills and wrestles with knowing a place she once felt so safe no longer feels that way. I have so many words but also not nearly enough to perfectly capture this story. Every family should read this together. The content may be intense but it is an important read for children who are learning to deal with the darkness in the world.

This would be a great addition to a classroom library or for a school counselor. Families may also enjoy having this as a book to read aloud and discuss. Definitely one that children should read. This book is not at a lower level that beginning readers could read independently but advanced readers around the second or third grade level could tackle this on their own. Still, reading as a family or as a class will give an adult an opportunity to direct the conversation around this book since the themes and subject matter are so important.

[Payton Stuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

It definitely is a cute book but also has a good message.

[Heather Stigall · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE THURSDAY AFTERNOON tells the story of Ava who, while with her Granddad in the park, shares how scared she was during a lockdown drill at school. Granddad patiently waits until Ava is ready to talk. When she is, he listens and acknowledges Ava’s feelings, and encourages her to spend time in nature and to paint using all her senses. What I liked about this book is how it tackles a heavy subject (that is, unfortunately, all too relevant today) in a direct manner. The grownup doesn’t solve the child’s problem or tell her that everything is okay. Instead, he provides a safe space for the child to sit in silence and then listens when the child is ready to share. He validates her feelings, offers comfort and support, and suggests a creative outlet. The story’s gentle arc resolves in a heartfelt, hopeful ending, followed by an author’s note that includes the inspiration behind the story and suggestions of what readers can do when fear creeps in our lives. What I love even more about the book is the art. Barbara DiLorenzo’s watercolor illustrations are dreamy. The soft color palette of golds, oranges, greens, and blues capture the calmness of a fall day in the park and match the serious nature of the text without being drab or depressing. I think this book is a must for classrooms, libraries, and homes, especially in today’s climate.

Thank you to Flyaway Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review (which was voluntary)!

[Reading With Yeti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava comes from school one afternoon...quiet, confused and uncertain. She doesn't want to talk about the lockdown drill that happened in school, which has provoked her fears - how can a place that she believed "safe" become a place to fear?
Her grandfather doesn't say much. However, he redirected Ava's fear with a technique of gentle encouragement by explaining that although the world can be scary, it can still be a beautiful place.
"One Thursday Afternoon" clarifies that in an unpredictable and uncertain world, one can be afraid and confused. Furthermore, the stress of being fearful can be reduced or eliminated by opening up to discuss our big feelings to someone that we trust and love,
This is a vital book that needs to be added to our libraries as it discusses a sensitive yet important concept. The author also includes suggestion for adults on how they can help children overcome fears.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a sad day when we need to talk to children as young as 3 about the need for a school lockdown, but that is the subject of this picture book. And it's a simple, quiet, gentle book that suggests ways to deal with the anxiety brought on by such an experience. I want to have this book to read to my granddaughter because I think the time will come soon. The emotional and sensitive illustrations are lovely and calming. In very few words, it helped me to feel better about dealing with this subject.

[Carolyn Francine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should not have to exist. But here is why you need to read it.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an early copy for review.
Note: My full review is after the Short Review. Trigger warnings for those who decide to read the full review.

Short Review:

"One Thursday Afternoon" is a beautifully illustrated book about Ava, an elementary school-aged girl who is confused and afraid after a school lock-down drill, and her grandad, who listens and empathizes with her as she processes her emotions after the scary event. He takes her for a picnic and to paint in the park, and while few words are spoken, it is very meaningful.

The illustrations are stunning, the fall afternoon vivid and crisp on the page, the simplicity of the story heartbreaking and beautiful all at once.

I truly believe everyone with a child in their life needs to read this book, and be ready and open to a conversation on this topic. This book is the perfect start.

Full Review:

I was 10 years old when my local high school, just miles down the road, was attacked by a student with a gun. As children just 5 years older than me were injured and killed, my elementary school went on lock-down. We didn't really know what was happening, but suddenly one thing was clear: Our parents could not protect us from this.

Suddenly, fear was very real, and our teachers were our only hope for calm and reassurance. I will forever remember that day- my need to find my little cousin who was 2 grades younger than me, to make sure she was okay, to hug her as she cried-and my wonderful teacher who kept us busy, quiet, and safe, until the lock-down was lifted, the damage was done, and our parents were finally allowed to collect us, devastated as we learned of what occurred that morning.

Twenty years later I am grown, old enough to have my own children, and this book brings a hard lump to my throat. Because this Ava, this thoughtful little elementary-school-aged girl, was me.

There are 3 things I need everyone to take away from this book.
1. Children's fears and confusion are valid, and are to be taken as seriously as your own. They are to be expressed and moved through, with loving and kind guidance.
2. Adults are to listen, to empathize, and to provide a safe space for their children to speak and feel heard. Simply saying "that will never happen to you" or "it'll be okay", disregards their very real fears.
3. This book is just the start to a conversation we should all have with our children, or at the very least be ready and willing to have.

I graduated from that same high school, eating my lunch in the same cafeteria where children were murdered, volunteering with my team to polish the memorial made on the school grounds in honor of the fallen and injured children from that day. Each year the entire town would pause for a long moment of silence, the local fire and police departments lining up outside our buildings to remember the tragedy of that day, their lights flashing- but not a sound. The absolute and wrong silence of hundreds of high school students, teachers, parents, and law enforcement gathered together.

The active-shooter drills were as constant as earthquake and fire drills. The imperfect patches on the textured walls of my school were bandaged scars from bullet holes, and I would stare at them, not really able to comprehend what had happened right where I was standing.

And I was one of the lucky ones- 3 miles and 4 years away from being at that school that day.

But I still felt it, our entire beautiful little town did, and so do children now who have to go through the same lock-downs and drills I went through, a generation later.

This book is a beautiful start to a conversation that is vital to the wellbeing of our children. Please read it, empathize with it, and think about what you will do to support the children in your lives and your community.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I think the existence of this book is important, and I doubt there are many like it, so I appreciate the author's willingness to address how lockdown drills affect children in school. In her author's note at the end, DiLorenzo's empathy shines through as she reflects on the reason for writing this book.

One Thursday Afternoon follows the story of Ava, a young girl who's just experienced the fear and disorientation of a lockdown at school and struggles to grapple with these emotions as she spends the afternoon with her grandpa at the park.

Let's start with what the book does well:
- The setting felt like the right choice. Illustrated in soothing shades of green and orange, it felt like exactly the kind of environment that offers safety for processing emotions.
- The grandpa exhibits humility in admitting that he doesn't know exactly what Ava is going through but offers his presence and support instead. In reading this to children and grandchildren, parents and guardians can be invited to embrace the same level of empathy.

That being said, the implementation of the idea could have been strengthened. Starting at the end of the school day, the book didn't make clear the nature of the context we were dropped into, and we didn't learn until a couple pages in that Ava was upset or why. The illustrated facial expressions hinted at it, but they were too subtle to really get the point across.

Also, the response of saying, "yes, the world is scary, but it's also beautiful" felt unearned, like it didn't acknowledge the complexity of Ava's emotions or the situation. I know children might not be able to comprehend it all, but I do believe they can hold a bit more complexity than was offered.

We had a moment where she began to lean on her painting as a way to release some of the tension, and I would've liked to sit there longer: How can painting, or art in general, or other activities help us see the world as a beautiful place, to make good on that earlier claim?

All in all, I'll reiterate that this is an important book, but I would've liked to see more development of the concept. Still, I'm glad it exists nonetheless.

[Beth H · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do with the scared that you feel? Mister Rogers might have used this question as a topic for an episode of his beloved children’s television program. How do we help the young people in our lives cope with the overwhelming emotions around current school safety issues, especially after a school day containing a lock-down drill? In the new children’s book One Thursday Afternoon, by author/illustrator Barbara DiLorenzo, the character of Granddad helps his granddaughter Ava discuss her fears in her own time, in a safe space surrounded by nature, with an art/life lesson included.

DiLorenzo’s color palate is at once calming and complex, allowing the reader to take in both the surroundings and dialogue simultaneously. The colors help with the movement of the story from Ava’s school, to a nearby nature preserve, to a pond complete with noisy ducks. The watercolor paintings invite reflection, breathing, and using all our senses, as Granddad suggests to Ava. I found myself looking from painting to the text surprised by the beautiful details, while a wise grandfather observes, listens, and shares his own experiences with the nuclear bomb drills of his childhood. Yet he is like a strong sheltering tree for Ava as she examines her own thoughts.

DiLorenzo has chosen an outdoor setting of a kind accessible to all of us in which to set her story. Granddad respects Ava’s personal space and her feelings about having a bad day, but he doesn’t turn away or let Ava isolate herself, instead they are “alone together.” As Ava’s view moves her focus internal turmoil to the outdoors she’s ready to paint with her grandfather and explore her feelings in more detail. Sometimes timing can seen uncanny, as with the release of Barbara DiLorenzo’s, One Thursday Afternoon. I can imagine teachers, librarians, or family members using this book as a starting point for discussing the safety concerns of school children and those who love them. This book is memorable and beautifully written and illustrated.

[Anam Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read this book, I wondered who really should be the audience. It is a picture book so presumably something children would read. But I think it is more for adults to give them guidance on how to talk to children about scary things.

In the book Ava has become concerned about a lockdown drill at there school. Certainly the idea that one is not safe can be frightening. Ava's grandfather takes her out for the afternoon and when she finally is ready to talk about her fears, he acknowledges that even though the world can be scary, it can also be beautiful.

Now this is a great message, but for a child in an inner city school who doesn't have the option of sitting in a pleasant place like Ava and her grandfather, the message might seem a bit unreal. However, if a parent has read this, they would know how to better address these fears.

When Grandfather told Ava that as a child he went through "duck and cover" drills, I couldn't help but be taken back to my own childhood. I grew up where there was a large military presence it was considered one of the primary targets of any attack by another country. Many people were building bomb shelters. I remember my mother saying that she'd rather die in the attack than live in the nuclear fallout that was expected to be left. As a child, we knew that ducking under a desk in a room that had one wall of glass windows or crouching in the hallway would not really protect us. Even as an adult, there were times that I would be frightened if I heard lots of airplanes at one time - and then later in the mid 70's when our air force was grounded because of an international event, I was frightened when we heard NO planes at the Air Force Base.

This is largely a book for adults to remind them of their own fears both as children and how to discuss them so that a child will realize that we all have certain fears, but we learn how to live to overcome them and enjoy life in spite of them.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated picture book tells about a girl and her grandad having a picnic and painting at the park after a scary lockdown drill at school. Ava has a hard time bringing up her feelings but eventually shares them with her grandad who validates the feelings, tells of his own experiences with "duck and cover" drills and offers the strategy of painting using all of her senses as a way to deal with the feelings she is experiencing. The illustrations are so beautiful, they look like paint with a sponge to create a fall park in the background. I love that the book teaches about using all of your senses because that is important for art, but it is also important for mindfulness. I think that this book offers children the opportunity to talk about lockdown drills or fears about safety at school while also offering opportunities to discuss mindfulness and mental health strategies that young children might enjoy, whether or not they needed them as a strategy that day. As a grade 3 teacher, I have had to teach about lockdown drills which can be really hard with young children, they wonder why a bad guy would want to come into their school and how would be survive if that happened. Their questions get to be a lot! I could see this book being a nice resource for teachers who are teaching about these drills. I also like that it is set in fall, a time when we seem to review a lot of these protocols. I also like that the illustrations are artistic and the book is about creating art. I could see the book being an inspiration for creating art as well. I would recommend this book to families and teachers of children in the Kindergarten to Grade 5 age range. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this great book!

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Thursday Afternoon describes the anxiety of a child after a lockdown drill at school and gives children (and parents) methods to address those concerns in a gentle, age appropriate way. It opens the door for those conversations which can be so difficult to begin. The language and illustrations balance the difficult subject with calm, warm colors and a serene landscape. Unfortunately, today, this tragic kind of event repeats itself across the United States and children are exposed to that news. Lockdown drills are real and necessary. In particular, I thought that it was interesting that the author handled the difference between the grandfather's  experience and the child's. Like the grandfather, I was terrified by some of the drills we were required to do in my elementary school. I am not a grandmother, but there was little television and no internet in my childhood. To make it a little more real for us, we were shown movies about the different threats. I still remember running all the way home from school after one of these films. Today, they don't need to tell children why the drills are necessary, the tragedies are magnified on every screen that a child might be exposed to.
The author explains that the book was born from her own experience of a lockdown during a school visit. Imagine yourself in her position--not a drill--then imagine all the children at that school going through the same experience. This is an important book. 

[Cindy Strouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lesson for both young and old… slow down, listen, taking in the beauty around you even when times can be scary. The authors’ handling of a very serious subject and unfortunately very real fact of life in the US today is gentle, calming, but helpful.

Ava has been shaken and scared by a lockdown drill at school today. Grandpa senses her sullen mood and takes her to a park to paint. In the park, she takes in the beauty with all her senses and when she is ready, she talks about her fear. He relates to her experience from his “duck and cover” drills of his youth.

The author's decision not to include the actual lockdown drill was a stroke of genius and strengthens the objective of the book. What a gentle thoughtful presentation of how we all can be comforted by the beauty around us. The colorful artwork reflects the calming effect of nature. I found the lack of color in the opening page foreshadowing Ava’s mood and similarly the end pages reflect the realty that Ava’s fears are real, but manageable.

An excellent aid for parents and teachers to address the concerns of children and students about the reality of having to participate in lockdown drills. As a therapy dog reading team in schools and libraries, I can see how helpful this book would be for kids to read, especially if they are being hugged by a parent or while petting a dog.