The Show and Tell That Saved a Town

Margaret Bunel Edwards is the author of Little Stitch, The Ocean
Between, and The ABCs of Writing for Children.

This story of racial intolerance relates the adventures of Daisy
Yellowhammer, who makes the mistake of flying her kite glider over the
blue part of the town of Rainbow and Arrow. Believing she is a monster,
Tom Bluecheese shoots her from the sky. Saved by the Bluecheese family,
Daisy lives with them until her glider is repaired. Naturally, she falls
in love with Tom, and when she glides off to her home in the yellow
section of town, she promises to return and marry him someday. Her
overjoyed family welcomes her back, even though she can now read and
write, skills she learned in the blue part of town. When her father
arranges a marriage for her, she flies back to Tom. At first, not
everyone welcomes the union of a yellow girl and a blue man, but
gradually other colored people are introduced and tolerance and
understanding win the day.

This timely story, told in the style of a fairy tale, will help
children realize that everyone, regardless of racial or cultural
background, has similar dreams and hopes for the future. Black-and-white
illustrations add interest to a story notable for its attention to
careful detail, imaginative touches, strong characterization, and clever
plot twists. Recommended.