The Playdate

For one little girl, the prospect of a playdate at her friend Henry's house fills her with excitement.

She really likes Henry. He even has a funny dog. And although she and her mother have to take a bus, then the subway, then change to another line, then a bus, and then walk for a while, it's worth it because Henry's house has millions of rooms to hide in and hundreds of toys to play with.

But while the text tells one story, the illustrations slowly reveal another. As the kids tear around the house enjoying each other's company, their moms experience the playdate very differently. Soon we find that the little girl and her friend Henry live lives that are poles apart.

This compelling story encourages readers to question why we live in a society where those who have and those who have not live very different lives.