One Can Be

Zietlow Miller’s short, poetic lines and Cron’s citrus-hued illustrations spotlight reading as both solitary activity and one that draws people together. Anchored by repetition (“One can...”), staccato text initially centers on a single reader, portrayed with brown skin, who gets the idea to create something and then pursues the project “Single-handedly./ Whole-heartedly.” While narration articulates the speaker’s ambitions for community-building (“One learns./ Teaches./ Shares”), unlined artwork traces the construction of a little free library—from its original inception by the protagonist to its collaborative creation. The box’s success bridging from one to many (“Separate./ But still, very much together”) amplifies the story’s lively vibe. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–7. (Sept.)