Every Little Kindness

August 15, 2021
In Bartolj's wordless debut, first published in Slovenia, small acts of kindness have big effects. Soft watercolor illustrations in a graphic-novel layout open on and follow a distraught-looking individual as they leave home to put up posters for their missing dog. As the walker pauses to offer an apple to a busker in the park, the spotlight shifts to an onlooker, who stops to pick up litter on their walk--which inspires a child to buy a balloon for a friend, and so on. The primary-color palette keeps the impressionistic backgrounds (most of which feature their "lost dog" poster) of an idyllic, European-style city--complete with charming cafes and cobblestoned pedestrian streets--in gentle, blue-gray washes on yellow paper, with the details of each act of kindness highlighted in bright red. The return of dropped items, the holding of doors, the sharing of umbrellas, seats, and playtime all circle back to a person finally coming across the lost dog and its resulting happy reunion with its owner. The sweetness of the story is palpable without being cloying, and the message of care comes through without needing to be said. Most humans depicted present White; the finder of the dog is a person of color, two women wear headscarves, and one character uses a wheelchair. A lesson by example in compassion for all ages. (Picture book. 3-12)

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October 1, 2021
Grades K-3 A girl awakens early and sets off walking through her neighborhood, posting flyers about her missing dog. Along the way, she gives a street musician an apple; this kindness encourages another walker to pick up litter, which in turn inspires a young child to replace a balloon for a sobbing toddler. The thoughtful deeds continue, finally circling back to the original girl, who is reunited with her lost pup. Bartolj's wordless picture book, originally published in Slovenia, beautifully illustrates the concept of paying it forward. Her watercolor-and-ink illustrations employ a palette of grey tones and yellows with red used to bring attention to the good deeds in the story. The use of comic panels allows the narrative to expand, depicting several additional altruistic acts before the story's conclusion. Readers will enjoy finding the dog posters throughout and predicting the kindly acts in each vignette. With endpapers depicting a bird's eye view of the neighborhood, and small details signaling a European-style city setting, this is a tale that begs for repeated viewings.

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