Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

Sheldon was left for dead in a pasture somewhere in Georgia when Pinkus found him. The mahogany skin colored boy was wearing Union colors just as Sheldon was. He picked him up and carried him out of the field and brought him to his mother Moe Moe Bays house. She was very kind and gentle, and cared for both of the boys. They were putting her in danger because they were in confederate territory. Though Sheldon, who asked to be called Say, did not want to go back and fight, he knew he had to do it for Pink. Before they could get out of the house, the marauding Confederate troops rode in. Moe Moe Bay hid the boys, but sadly she was killed. Pink and Say were then captured and thrown into a confederate camp. They were separated in the camp and never saw each other again. Say would survive and go on to have a family, but sadly Pink did not. This book is in memory of Pink.

This amazing story of friendship in time of war is beautifully written and incredibly sad. This picture book is a great story to include in a classroom library for students in older grades for 9-12 year olds. It could be a good book to read when learning about the civil war. The war is not the focus, but the effects of the war on those who were fighting in it. Pink and Say form a strong bond in such a short amount of time. Pink and Moe Moe Bay took Say in and nursed him back to health. This is a great way for students to see that helping others in need is very important. This book dealt with deep issues that could be hard to discuss with younger kids, but I think would be good for 4th and 5th graders. The book was long and very detailed.

I was tearing up while reading this book and saddened to find out that Pink did not make it. Though this book does not have the happiest of endings, it is important for children to learn that now everything in the world is perfect. Parents like to shield their children from the world, but the truth is we all are going to loss at some point in our lives. There is a proper way to learn about these subjects and I think there is no way better to learn about it, then with a childrens book.