The Silver Button by Bob Graham

The start of a new year is a great time to step back and take a longer look at things, so I've chosen to begin 2014 with a post about a picture book that does exactly that.

The entire drama in The Silver Button by Bob Graham (How to Heal a Broken Wing) takes place over the course of one single minute. While a baby takes his first step, Graham offers glimpses of simultaneous moments happening in a widening circle that begins in the child's house and gradually expands to include an aerial view of the entire city in which he lives. It's a beautiful exercise in gaining perspective and placing ourselves in the context of our larger world.

All ages, from babies to adults.

More picture books that shift the focal point to longer and wider views can be found on my Zoom Out list here.