I Promise I'll Find You

Young readers will be reassured by the age-appropriate story.

Author: Heather Ward Illustrator: Sheila McGraw Pages: 22 Publisher: Firefly Books Ltd. Published Date: 01/01/1994 Genre: Fiction - Picture Book PB Price: $5.95 Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Read Aloud: 4+ Read Alone: 6+

Common Sense Note

The meaningful story is told in rhyme. Illustrations vary in style but correspond to the text. Some young children will be afraid of the subject but comforted by the happy ending.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Karyn Wellhousen

The story of a mother searching for her lost child is told in first person in eleven rhyming verses. The endearing message is one of unconditional devotion.

There is great variety in the artistic style, media, and visual perspectives in Sheila McGraws's illustrations. However, similar features create continuity: All illustrations feature a young mother with long auburn hair and a dog. With assistance, children can find in the picture a small, featureless figure gesturing to his mother.

The author's message is about situations in which parents and children experience long, anxious periods of separation. This is clear from the book dedication and from a notation stating that a portion of the book's proceeds benefits child-locating agencies. However, the story is warmly reassuring to children who simply have a fear of being lost and to those who have experienced an unintentional separation from parents in a public place.

From The Book

In one illustration, a young woman on a motorbike zooms along a quaint street lined with shops. A small figure can be seen through a window beckoning to her. The text reads: "If I had a little motorbike / I'd ride across the land. / I'd find you and I'd reach for you / And you would take my hand."

Plot Summary:

The greatest fear of every parent and child is to be separated from each other. I PROMISE I'LL FIND YOU addresses this fear sensitively, but without minimizing the feelings of anguish. Young readers will be reassured to know the lengths to which adults will go to find a missing child.

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