Vail, Rachel. You and Me, Anemone: A Story About Friendship and Personal Space. Chris Raschka, Illus. Greenwillow, 06/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99.  9780063414723. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.            

Caldecott winner Raschka employs gesso on fabric, and embroidery floss and yarn, for brightly colored illustrations that appear textured on the page. Rhyming text features vocabulary far exceeding the level of the audience (“assertively,” “resplendent,” and “entreaty” are all included as part of the limited text.) The subtitle is “A Story About Friendship and Personal Space,” but the illustrations are so dazzling and the text so limited that this message is liable to go right over children’s heads. Respect for the environment may be a more likely takeaway. An author’s note offers more detail on what children can do to build necessary boundaries of personal space.

Beth Gousman—Montclair Elementary School / Oakland Unified School District