Once a week, my girls and I dig into the picture book bins at our local library to refresh our snack time reading options. The girls want silly books featuring animals. I want books with cool art and a strong universal message.
This Kidlit Spotlight satisfies both, making it an all-around winner.
Meet adorable Plum (aka "Plummie"). Scraggly black coat. Vibrant red collar. Up-to-no-good wide eyes. Regardless of your age, there's no way you can avoid loving - and relating to - the furry protagonist of Emma Chichester Clark's heart-warming book, Love is My Favorite Thing.
Kidlit Spotlight snack? Orange slices
The joys of puppy-dom are not lost on Plummie. Wind, snow, treats, sticks - all brighten her day and give her joy. And of all the wonderful things to enjoy in life, LOVE is her favorite thing. (Particularly, the love of her owners and the little kids who live next door.)
But there's a problem... Something that never fails to drive a wedge between Plum and her beloved companions: Plummie's insatiable, overriding appetite for fun and adventure. Try as she may, there are some things that Plum just has to do, even though she knows she shouldn't.
Jump in that pond. Steal that girl's ice-cream. Rip apart that pillow.
Wowza, what a beautiful spread!
When Plum gives into her desires, BOOM. Down comes the hammer. She becomes "bad" Plummie, "naughty" Plummie. And she ends up in some serious time outs. It's no wonder my girls relate to this pup. (At bedtime recently, my middle said, "I don't like it when you leave me in my room in the dark. Just like Plummie.")
Love is My Favorite Thing clearly delivers the message that behaving can be really hard, but when we get punished, it's because those who love us are trying to teach us right from wrong. Plum shows us that we all make mistakes, and that getting back into good relationship with others requires sincerity - in our apology and in our commitment to self-improvement.
Can we all be better friends to one another? Can we say we are sorry (and mean it), then work with all our might to make amends and turn toward light?
In the words of Plummie: "I can do that. I really can try!"