Books with author Valerie King

In the rhyming picture book Zack had our Back(ages 3-8), a young girl encounters one of the city's homeless veterans whose appearance unsettles her. She learns an important lesson about judgement, however, when the encounter takes an unexpected turn. The verse is accompanied by colorful illustrations to accommodate young attention spans while revealing the veteran's service to country, the reason behind his life on the streets,and a surprise about his character. This delightful story occupies an unusual niche in children's literature for its delicate handling of difficult subject matter and its resonance with both young and old. Zack had our Back is a tool for parents and teachers interested in preventing the toxicity of misperception before it can shape the soul, the mind, and conscience of young children in their care.