A Small Thing...but Big by Tony Johnston & Illus by Hadley Hooper

This is an incredibly sweet little book about a little girl overcoming her fear of dogs. 

This book has been castigated in public opinion because this little girl walks around the park with an old man with a dog. Creeper, much? Yet when I reread this book through that lens, I think the mother knew exactly who the old man was and was keeping an eye on both of them the whole time. See her cheery wave to the old man? Perhaps they ran in the same social circle. 

I refuse to think that this book is about a creeper old man and a neglectful mother.

There is Lizzie, running around the edge of the fountain. And there is her mother, reading a book on the bench. 

And there, is the dog! 

Aren't they both adorable??

Cecile the dog was very kind to little children.

Lizzie patted her. 

It is a small thing to pat a dog, but a big thing if you are scared. 

The old man invited Lizzie to go for a stroll around the park with them. 

Lizzie was nervous. But a reassuring wave from her mother gave her the confidence to try it out. 

Promenading.

And then, wonder of wonder!! Lizzie is walking Cecile all by herself!!

She who was nervous around dogs was doing it by herself. 

It is a small thing to walk a dog, but big if  you happen to be a teensy bit scared of dogs. 

Note the mother following along at a distance--keeping an eye on what is going on, but not crowding Lizzie's bright moment of bravery either. 

Lizzie and Cecile walked around the park.

Hesitantly at first, then springingly, oh springingly. 

Oh the delight of suddenly finding yourself to be brave! And at the end of the book, we find that the old man came over a fear of his own. 

I guess I am just not that worried about the old man. I see plenty of evidence that the mother had her eye on Lizzie the whole time. That wave on the first page seems to indicate that the mother knew the old man in some social sense. And really truly, I love that the mother kept her distance and let Lizzie have this moment of independence and bravery all to herself. This pretty much encapsulates my parenting style.

So here is to all quasi-free range kids and parents.

One Amazon review begins with "Maybe there is a more dangerous book to read to a four year old, but I can't think of one off the top of my head..." 

And here is to parents, like me, who read their kids dangerous books.

Have a happy Monday!