If you're looking for a sweet picture book about animals, humans and friendship, you should read A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Phillip Christian Stead. Amos McGee is an elderly zookeeper who always makes time to visit his good friends--the chess-playing elephant, the race-running tortoise, the shy penguin, the runny-nosed rhino and story-loving owl. One day, Amos catches a cold and stays home from work. His animal friends miss him so much that they take a bus to his house and take care of him in the same loving way that he has taken care of them. The soft colors and illustrations give this book an old-fashioned feel, and enhance the overall tone of the story.
I loved this book even before I found out that it had won the Caldecott Medal! This one's worth a look.
Lisa U., CC Library
