Published by Greenwillow Books

Summary:  When the narrator visits her Papa, they enjoy going to breakfast together, sharing a cup of creamy, sweet coffee.  Afterwards, they play their violins together in the park, where she meets Papa’s friend, another musician named Mister Blue.  Mister Blue lives outside, but that doesn’t stop him from making beautiful music, playing a makeshift drum set for people who are protesting in the streets and for those who like to dance.  Papa says he and Mister Blue go way back, and the illustrations shift to black and white, showing the two men in a war together.  The girl has questions about Mister Blue: is he safe? Is he scared? Is he lonely? Is he hungry?  Those questions inspire Papa to go out on a rainy night to find his friend, who is sleeping on a bench, and invite him back to the house. There, the three of them make happy music together.  Includes an author’s note about her father’s stories that inspired this book.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A touching story that humanizes an unhoused person and shows how truly seeing a person can lead to taking action.  

Cons:  Kids may need some help understanding what is going on with the flashback scenes showing Papa’s memories.