The Name of the Child

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

Young Lloyd must leave the city because of the influenza epidemic and
live with his aunt and uncle in the country where he’ll be safe.
However, he’s been there only overnight when both relatives come down
with the disease and he is entrusted with taking their newborn baby to
safety.

Lloyd doesn’t know how to drive the horse and wagon and he’s afraid
of the dark, but he sets out on the journey anyway, trusting that the
horse, Old Bob, will know the way. Then a thunderstorm comes up and the
wagon gets stuck in the mud. Lloyd has to trudge through the rain,
carrying the baby, but he makes it safely to the neighbor’s.

This is a tale of courage and heroism. Lloyd is not by nature a brave
boy. He’s afraid of dogs, lightning, getting lost, even going on the
train by himself, so it is quite a feat for him to carry the baby
through unfamiliar territory, at night, alone.

It is also a very moving picture book. Lloyd sings to himself to keep
up his courage and, in a nice touch, changes the last line of
“Rock-a-bye baby” to “And Lloyd saves the baby, cradle and all.”
In gratitude for his heroism, Lloyd’s aunt and uncle name their new
baby after him. The story appears to take place in the early decades of
the 20th century, and the soft-focus illustrations reflect this era.
They have a blurred quality with soft edges that suits the largely rural
subject matter. This book is recommended for both its storyline and its
artistry.