TOGETHER WE BUILD

A community comes together to rebuild after extensive storm damage.

Pouring rain, rising river waters, and fierce winds cause people and animals alike to seek makeshift shelter in a nearby barn. In the morning, “skies so blue” reveal extensive destruction. “Where to start? / So much to do!” Things get worse when tempers flare between even the closest neighbors: Accusations of “Not mine. That’s yours!” are met with “We quit! We’re done! / Slam all the doors!” Thankfully, rest and communication repair relationships and prove there’s “always, always / room to grow.” The challenges of “finding [and] hauling” give way to “laughing [and] learning” as more residents assist one another: “Kindness, healing, / hope fulfilled. / Friend and neighbor, / together we build!” Vaught and Murphy have gratifyingly reunited to repeat the success of 2020’s Together We Grow. Murphy’s meticulous illustrations again enhance Vaught’s simple, resonating rhymes. Every spread spotlights the attention and care afforded all manner of animals, from the usual barnyard cows, pigs, and chickens to turtles, raccoons, and even a curious mole. Whether feathered or furry, these creatures are charmingly anthropomorphized, conveying sadness, loyalty, caring, and joy. Murphy realistically depicts exhausted adults initially behaving badly (mirrored by their animals!)—to the clear detriment of their children. Her humans reflect a wide diversity in terms of skin tone, age, and physical ability. The endpapers cleverly capture the transformative power of rebuilding together.

A convincing look at the rewards of cooperating and collaborating.