SCARLET'S TALE

A young human girl with an unusual physical feature gains acceptance.

At Scarlet’s birth, her parents counted: “Two eyes. One nose. Ten fingers. Ten toes. / Also, one long, fluffy, fuzzy, furry tail. That was a surprise.” Her parents shower her with love and accept that her foxlike tail means custom-made clothing and keeping low-lying surfaces clear of objects. But school is another matter. People stare and point, and her classroom has not been adapted to her swishing tail, which inadvertently knocks objects about. The next day is especially lonely until she gets on the swings, which always make her happy and cause her tail to wag. Callie and Josh decide to join her, and the three become inseparable, gradually turning wagging—whether it be tail or bottom—into their own happy, welcoming language. And because “Happiness can be kind of contagious,” the school and then the whole town take to wagging their butts when happy—the street scene is quite amusing. Scarlet and her family present White, as does Callie, while Josh presents Black; students and the townsfolk are diverse. Bright background colors and simple details in the illustrations keep the focus on emotions and interactions. Even tailless children will empathize with Scarlet, though it’s a bit sad that others’ acceptance is so important to her sense of self-worth.

A young girl’s difference unites a community.