Age-appropriate story reassures young readers.
The story of a mother searching for her lost child is told in first person in 11 rhyming verses. The endearing message is one of unconditional devotion. There is great variety in the artistic style, media, and visual perspectives in Sheila McGraw's illustrations. However, similar features create continuity and, 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.