PINNY IN FALL

Pinny packs a small bag full of contingency items before she leaves home for a walk—and everything comes in handy by the end of her adventurous day.

The sweet, self-assured little girl (Pinny in Summer, 2016) has returned, along with her two stalwart friends, Annie and Lou. The story begins as Pinny, alone in her bedroom, wakes up with exercises before packing for her walk. The fall weather is unpredictable, so Pinny packs both a sweater and a rain hat in her bag, as well as an apple, some cookies, a book, and “the most important thing of all—her treasure pouch.” As in the summer tale, there are short, named chapters related in accessible, graceful sentences, with illustrations to match. The color palette captures the muted beauty of a coastal fall. Pinny and friends live in an ideal world of tall, tick-free grasses and no adult supervision. In fact, they rise to the occasion of helping the lighthouse keeper when a sudden fog threatens a ship at sea. It boggles the more sophisticated mind that the lighthouse keeper really needs their help, but the alternative is equally sweet: a man who takes the time to empower local children. Pinny’s pleasure in her friends, in being helpful, and in nature’s ephemeral treats is contagious. Pinny, Lou, and the lighthouse keeper present white; Annie appears to be Asian.

We eagerly await Pinny’s winter.