Peanuts
Emergency
By Cristina Salat
Review by: Yvonne
Gaudet
It all happened after school on
that April afternoon. When all the children’s parents had come to pick
them up, Peanut was left standing there.
No one came for her, her mom was late! Peanut climbed up the tree
to see if she could see her mom coming. Her teacher walked right by the
tree and didn’t notice Peanut waving at her. When she realizes she is
totally alone Peanut becomes upset. She remembers the emergency money that
mommy had put in the zippered pocket in her running shoe. When Peanut
opens the pocket and realizes that the money is gone, she remembers about
the cupcakes she bought with the money instead. Oops! Now Peanut feels
like she has been bad, her mother specifically told her that the money was
for emergency situations only, and Peanut had disobeyed her.
Peanut knows how to make a collect phone call from the pay phone,
but after she pushes the “0” button, she can’t remember her phone
number to give to the operator.
When
a stranger approaches her to ask for help finding his lost puppy, Peanut
gets a little worried. She remembers another thing her parents had told
her. “If a stranger bothers you, go someplace safe and tell someone!”
Peanut runs around the corner into the store where Mrs. Yee works. Peanut
doesn’t know Mrs. Yee very well, but her mother always buys a coffee
here so it will have to do.
Peanut tells Mrs. Yee what has happened and how everybody forgot
about her. Mrs. Yee gives Peanut a lollipop to calm her down, and then
looks in the phone book for Peanuts number. When they call Peanuts home,
there is no response. Peanut doesn’t remember her Grandpas last name so
she cannot call him either. The only other option may be to call the
police for help. Mrs. Yee tries to call Peanuts house one more time and
finally her worried mother answers the phone. She races to the store and
explains about the car problems she had and apologizes for being late.
Peanuts mommy takes her home where Peanut explains to everyone what had
happened and where she had been. Her mom agrees that her emergency money
was to be saved for an emergency, but she is happy that Peanut is home
safe. Peanut still thinks she has been bad, until her family explains that
she did all the right things while on her lost adventure. She knew not to
talk to strangers, she knew to go to someplace safe and tell, and she got
home safely!
“Someone brave and smart keeps thinking and trying until they find a way
to get safe. That is what you did,” says mommy.
Peanut is not bad, she is good and smart and very brave, but most of all
Peanut is home with her family, safe and sound!
This book introduces and reinforces safety rules for what to do should we
get lost. A great book to read during “safety week” as it encourages
discussions and awareness. Tammie Lyon illustrates this book in watercolor
on Bristol board.
I
recommend this book for ages 0-10, because you’re never too young to
learn about safety!
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