In “The Possible Police” (written by Wylde Scott and illustrated by Hannah K. Shuping) a child’s dreams are called into question by the eponymous authorities:
“You simply can’t, it’s just not done…”
“Give up your hope and face the facts!”
However, the child knows better, with reponses like:
“You have not seen, you do not know, what I can do, where I can go…”
“No one can stop me.”
The soft, hazy artwork is pleasing, though my my grownup, writer’s brain was fixated on the rhyming pattern that sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t. The kids, however, loved the whole thing!
In fact, the book led to some great carpet discussion about what lessons we learned, with feedback (from seven and eight year olds) like:
“I learned that I can do anything I want to do.”
“I learned that dreams can come true.”
And, most interestingly:
“I learned that the grownups aren’t always right.”
Brilliant.
Disclosure: I was provided with a free copy of the book for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, my own.
