Hey, Boy

Written By: Benjamin Strouse
Illustrated By: Jennifer Phelan

This story is very similar to The Giving Tree in that the tone is very somber and it follows the same kind of cadence.  A boy meets a dog and loves him like only a boy can, but then the mom says he is not ready for the dog because he gets hurt.  The boy promises to be reunited again very soon but something always gets in the way.  If anything, this book will open up a lot of questions for young minds about life and aging.

Baabwaa & Wooliam

Written by: David Elliott
Illustrated by: Melissa Sweet

Elliott writes in a fairytale-like soft quality explaining the story in a matter of fact way that children will appreciate.  He tells the story of two intellectual sheep and the rambunctious wolf and how they meet and how they get to know each other and eventually become friends.