RAFA AND THE WRONG LEGS

A young child gets temporarily lost.

Rafa and Mama are shopping in a supermarket. “Big boy” Rafa can’t fit in the cart, so Mama tells him to stick close by. Rafa dutifully holds on to the cart as Mama navigates the aisles. In the bakery, the Cookie Man offers samples; Rafa tries several before stuffing one in his pocket. He and Mama move on to the produce section, where Rafa clings to her leg. A strawberry bounces to the floor; Rafa follows its trajectory, attempting to catch it. When he does, he triumphantly tries to show it to Mama—except the legs beside him aren’t hers! Rafa runs through the store, past many legs—none of them Mama’s. Finally, he sits, tearfully, and pulls a cookie from his pocket—then hears a loudspeaker announcement from the bakery. This gives him the bright idea to head that way—past numerous legs—back to the Cookie Man, who calls Mama. A joyful reunion ensues. This to-the-point cautionary tale is one that children must heed and learn from and a scenario that caregivers and kids should discuss together. Youngsters who have been in Rafa’s shoes may find it tense—and will be relieved at the outcome. Adopting a child’s-eye view of the world in many scenes, the colorful illustrations brim with kid appeal. Rafa and Mama are light-skinned; background characters are diverse.

Highlights a real-life situation that children and their grown-ups should talk about and be prepared to avert.