I WALK WITH VANESSA: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoet.  New York: Schartz & Wade Books.  32p.  ISBN 978-15247-6955-0 hc. $17.99     Gr. Pre-2     E PIC

Kerascoet, nom de plume for the French artists Sebastien Cosset and Marie Pommepuy, creatively illustrated this wordless book with the most thoughtful message of helping someone who is being bullied.  Vanessa, the only character with a name, enters a new school and separates herself from the others because she doesn't have a circle of friends yet.  One of the students targets the vulnerability of a new student and confronts her with a verbal attack.  The girl in the yellow dress witnesses the bully behavior, which troubles her the rest of the evening.  In the morning, she gets an idea of how to help Vanessa assimilate into the group of classmates.  Read the title to guess how she helps.  The theme of kindness is a learning experience for young children and a reminder for the rest.   This beautifully illustrated book conveys the message perfectly.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI