THE TROUBLE WITH GIRAFFES

A tan-skinned, ponytailed youngster describes the challenges of caring for a very tall pet giraffe.

Mitigating their differences in size, child and pet adapt and compromise, because “that’s what friends do: they find ways to meet in the middle.” The park’s treehouse, where the young narrator and a group of diverse friends gather with their own unusual pets, is inaccessible for Giraffe: He must poke his head through the window to participate. One day, the narrator literally goes out on a limb with an umbrella to protect Giraffe from the rain. The next page depicts the child in a cast and using crutches. “For days and days, everything is just a little bit harder than it used to be.” And now, the clubhouse is inaccessible to the child, too. But the protagonist has an idea, and after the youngster explains and the club members have a vote, everyone pitches in to move the “Welcome Back” party, and the clubhouse’s contents, down to ground level. Mantchev takes inclusion a step further from in her earlier book Strictly No Elephants (2015), demonstrating that removing barriers to physical access can transform a nominal “All are welcome” policy from good intentions to committed practice. Yoo leavens the message with winsome double-page spreads that cheerfully accentuate the diversity of both children and pets (including an armadillo, mini-narwhal, skunk, and more).

A kid-friendly look at the multifaceted work that underpins true inclusivity.