A girl shares her love for her neighborhood, and finds that love
multiplies, in this child-friendly story that encourages mindfulness and
gratitude.
Alice loves her street. She loves its tall maple trees and marigolds and
its apartment buildings with their colorful balconies. But not everyone
feels the same. "Grumble, grumble, more construction, grumble, late,
grumble," she overhears. So Alice decides to write her street a love
letter, which she leaves for someone to find. Through the seasons, as
Alice encounters people grumbling about other things, she writes those
things love letters, too, and leaves them to be found. She writes to her
local park, a maple tree and even the snow. Then, one day, when Alice
finds herself grumbling, she discovers a letter someone else has written
to the spring crocuses. And Alice feels the joy she has been spreading
to others come back to her!
Lindsay Zier-Vogel has created a delightful, uplifting story that
celebrates how small acts by a single person can make a difference in a
community. It inspires readers to pay attention and appreciate what they
encounter every day. Caroline Bonne-Müller's busy color-drenched
illustrations beautifully evoke the abundance surrounding everyone
(grumbling or not!) every day. This story was inspired by the
international Love Lettering Project created by the author, in which
participants write love letters to their communities and hide them for
strangers to find. An explanation of the project at the end of the story
encourages readers to write their own letters. This heartwarming picture
book aligns with social studies lessons on cultures and communities, and
character education lessons on caring, empathy and initiative.
