Picture Book

This delightful story about friendship won The Caldecott Medal with good reason. Amos is a punctual zookeeper and thoughtful friend to the animals. He recognizes the animals’ different needs and is supportive. For instance, the Tortoise gets a boost of self-confidence from a fan club of smaller animals when he wins all his races with Amos. One day, Amos awoke with a cold and stayed home from work. His friends missed him terribly, and made the trip –by bus- to visit Amos in his sickbed, reciprocating his kindness as they cared for him in their own individual ways. Created by a husband and wife team, this book’s calm and thoughtful message is exemplified by the soft and subtle art.  Wonderful lessons for children!


Review by Amanda Crafts