• …and Nick
• written by Emily Gore
• illustrated by Leonid Gore
• published by Atheneum Books / Simon & Schuster (2015)
• Roar Score: 5/5

Once in a while, a book comes along that touches you before the very first word. Sometimes, the cover design enchants you. Sometimes, a title is magically worded in such a way as to draw you in. Other times, it’s something unexpected.

…and Nick, from father-and-daughter duo Emily and Leonid Gore, touched my heart from the most unexpected of places.

The copyright page.

I mean, once you know the author and illustrator are daughter and father, respectively, this dedication is just about as heartwarming as it could possibly be.

…and Nick is a sweet story about four brothers who look very much alike. So much alike that their mother dresses them in different colors to tell them apart, and those colors come to symbolize their personalities and tastes.

Nick is the youngest and is the one in the green shirt. Immediately, in my house, this qualified him as the favorite. My son is a little brother, and green just happens to be his favorite color (as he tells us every 10 minutes).

During an afternoon spent riding their bikes, Nick is the only one who doesn’t find a magnificent flower for Mommy. Undeterred, he brings home a small green sprout, which is met with some good-natured ribbing from his brothers. (Alas, the perennial trials of being a younger sibling.)

Despite Mommy’s delight with and Nick’s pride in the sprout, doubt begins to creep in. What if the sprout isn’t good enough? What if it’s not special? What if….gasp!….he’s not special?

…and Nick is a touching reminder that each of us blooms and shines in unique ways…and at unique times. It’s ok to be quiet. It’s ok not to know what you want. It’s ok to be scared sometimes.

It’s ok to be different.

This one comes highly recommended and gets our highest marks.

(Thanks to Simon & Schuster who provided The Roarbots with a review copy of this book. All opinions remain my own.)