Not Far From You

Not Far From You there is a zoo with four monkeys. Most of the people who work or visit there are happy, and most of the animals that live there are happy. But Baboo is not. He wants to be tall, not small. So, although his friends invite him to play and Mr. McSween lets him help clean the zoo, he is still sad. Because he is sad, he doesn't play nice. When his friends continue to play without him, he realizes that it is even sadder to be left alone. He also realizes that each of his friends looks different. They also catch nuts differently and swing in the trees differently. Baboo learns he can feel big even if he is small and that he can choose to be nice and to share and to play fair. He learns to like himself the way he is. When Baboo likes himself, his behavior changes, and when his behavior changes, he becomes a very happy little monkey. Young readers will enjoy finding a hidden heart in every full-page picture.