Tilly and Rhinoceros

Tilly the tiniest goose in the kingdom faces a big mean bully of a rhinoceros. Instead of defeating the rhino with brain or brawn, she transforms him with kindness. Together they discover that when a rinoceros is your friend, he is your friend for life.

What a lovely book. It's a bedtime favorite for my 3-year-old son. It teaches the value of kindness to others, even bully rhinoceroses. (Rhinoceri?) The artwork is eye-catching, the language just right and the morals are front-and-center without being preachy. In addition to the main point of the story, that unconditional kindness is good, Samton manages to throw in a couple of other useful lessons: Riddles are good for entertaining but not for teasing people who can't get the answer. Sharing a song is a good way to make a friend. You should always wear your galoshes when it's cold, especially if you have webbed feet.