Here’s a one-of-kind, kid’s-eye view of the curious ways people behave in groups. In a field outside the city, some children are playing a game. They chase a kicked ball, then throw themselves on it in a laughing heap. But then the adults arrive. Lots of adults. They want to join the people pile. Soon, the pile has become so big, some people are uncomfortable. They have questions. Lots of questions. Like, should they be in two piles, or one? Meanwhile, the children wonder, what are all these adults doing? Can’t we just get back to our game? There’s a pile of big ideas for kids to ponder in this quirky, intriguing story! A quirky story with a kid’s-eye view of the curious ways people behave in groups. In a field outside the city, a group of children are playing a simple game. They run after a kicked ball, then throw themselves on top of the ball in a laughing heap. Then the adults arrive. Lots of adults. They want to join the people pile. But as more and more people join the pile, some of them become uncomfortable. Others have questions. Lots of questions. Like, how big is their pile? Are they a mountain? And when a disruption causes the one pile to become two piles, is that better? All the while, the children are confused. What are all these adults doing? Can’t they just get back to their game? Award-winning journalist Dave Cameron has created an unconventional, one-of-a-kind story to introduce young readers to some big ideas about societies, group mentality and group dynamics. It’s an excellent choice to encourage critical thinking about how people interact with each other in groups and could jump-start any number of wide-ranging discussions about societal structures, equality and fairness. The story’s open-ended yet positive resolution reassures readers that societies are always growing, changing and reinventing themselves, and that, ultimately, no one is better than anyone else and all are welcome and can be accommodated. Suharu Ogawa’s playful art is full of humorous and fun details that children will enjoy poring over, discovering something new with each read. AGES: 4 to 8 AUTHOR: Dave Cameron is an award-winning magazine writer whose work has appeared in The Walrus, Reader’s Digest and Cottage Life. This is his first book for children. He lives with his family in Hamilton, Ontario. Suharu Ogawa is a Toronto-based illustrator originally from Japan. Formally trained in art history and cultural anthropology, she worked for several years as a university librarian until her passion for illustration called her out of that career and into the pursuit of a lifelong dream. Since then, Suharu has done various work for magazines, children’s books, public art projects and more. She teaches illustration at OCAD University in Toronto, Ontario. SELLING POINTS: . Unconventional introduction to societies, group mentality and group dynamics . Excellent for encouraging critical thinking about how people interact . Open-ended resolution projects a positive note that societies always change, and all are welcome
