This sensitively written book explores the topic of poverty in a way which is easy for small children to understand.
The mum in this story works very hard but despite this, like so many people, she struggles to pay her bills. Life is a constant juggle, and on this particular day there is no money and no food in the cupboard so she and her daughter need to visit a foodbank.
The little girl is upbeat throughout and she sees the positives in every situation. She tells us about all the fun things you can do on a no-money day, like reading a library book, practising your singing or trying on the clothes at your local charity shop. She enjoys the visits to the foodbank because she gets some squash and a biscuit, and she likes to talk to the volunteers about the cat she hopes to have one day.
This child-like positivity is set against the sense of sadness, maternal love and heavy reality that we see emanating from the mum. The illustrations underline the duality of the story perfectly and there’s lots of detail to discuss.
This is a fantastic and much-needed book which I believe should feature in every primary school library. It allows an under-represented group of children to see themselves and their lives on the page, whilst also serving as a great conversation starter to help kids develop empathy and understanding.
Buy from Bookshop.org and support independent bookshops: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/155/9781781128817
Buy from Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2W3UH5D
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