One Can by Lana Button, Eric Walters and Isabelle Malenfant is due in September 2025 and I had the opportunity to read it via an online reader copy. And I was not prepared for the story. I figured it might be something about how wonderful a can is and all the wonderful things it can do (store food, pennies, shells, etc) or how you can recycle it and it can have a second life. Instead of something nice and cute, something that has been done many times, the subject was food related, but how some families will need help with food and even clothing.
Our narrator is excited to help with their class donating 100 cans for people in need. They pick their favorite food, regardless of not knowing when mom can get more. They just want to be able to help. When they line up the cans, in rows of ten, they see the last one is the child’s. Their teacher puts a snowflake sticker on it. A few days later, that same can show up in the grocery bag his other has. Are we people in need? They ask.
I’m not crying, you are crying.
The nice part of the story is that yes, this child and their mother are people in need for now. And if/when they have extra, someday they can help someone as well. Spoiler: the child does not have to wait too long before they find a way to help other people as well. The artwork is what ties things together. It is soft, sweet, and positive. Things are minimal in the way of illustration details, but have what is needed. It is just a nice book. It is not overly preachy, or has a situation where the child is bullied or forced to face their situation. Yes, they learn they are “in need” but it is done in an age appropriate way. There are also resources for the adult.
And whoop! Review Number 52