The Yes

K-Gr 3—This allegorical tale succeeds in showing children that a positive outlook and perseverance help eliminate the negative forces that drag people down as they journey through life. The Yes, depicted as a bright orange blob with no distinctive characteristics—a cross between a dog and a horse—leaves his "soft comfy nest in a safe warm place" to go to the Where through "an endless place of Nos." As he travels, he comes across many challenges: climbing a tree for food, crossing a flimsy bridge, swimming across a river, making his way through a dark forest. Along the way, the Nos—small, dark, and ashen specks—swarm him, calling negative thoughts such as "No, too big" and "No, you couldn't" that fill him with doubts. The Yes lumbers on and as each task is overcome, the noise of the Nos becomes quieter until they are finally left behind in one final triumph as the Yes reaches the summit of the biggest hill. Bee combines short phrases with longer sentences and repetitive text, creating a comfortable pace that blends with the illustrations, inviting readers to predict what will happen next. This lyrical read-aloud is calmer and a little less celebratory than Dr. Seuss's Oh, the Places You'll Go (Random, 1990) but deserves a place on the same shelves.