Rosie & Crayon

K-Gr 2—Rosie's best friend is her beloved dog, Crayon. "Crayon colored Rosie's world." The child is filled with love, and the world is full of bright colors as long as she has Crayon by her side. But one day, "after a long and colorful life, Crayon was gone," and Rosie's world becomes gray and black. A boy shows up at Rosie's house looking for his lost cat. Rosie helps search for the missing kitty, which distracts her from her own loss. When Rosie is the one who finds the cat, her heart is full again. Although the cat is not hers to keep, she is happy to have rescued him for her friend. Colors return to Rosie's world. Although this book is aimed at a young audience, it is also an excellent tool for teaching writing and discussing the use of descriptive words. The author employs lovely phrases: "tickled greens and fluttering yellows," "simmering reds and oranges that smoldered into pink," and "with every shade that blue could ever imagine." Readers will be able to visualize the colors. The stylized artwork relies on color and patterns to great effect yet allows young readers and listeners to focus on Rosie and her changing emotions throughout.