OTHERS: A Story for ALL of US

 If ever there were a picture book that models the immeasurable power of dialogue and questioning, this would be it. From the cover we see the premise: two boys are on one side of a tall hedge, offering an awareness that they are on one side and on the opposite side of that divide are OTHERS. In fact, the cover illustration indicates that whatever, WHOEVER, is on the opposite side is unknown. The sense that the unknown should be feared, or at least avoided, is made. Nothing there is threatening. The threat is the fear itself.  From that opening, an exchange of questions and answers ensues. 

Ten Speed Young Readers, 2026

OTHERS: A STORY FOR ALL OF US is written by Kobi Yamada and Illustrated by Charles Santoso. with each expansive double spread, a white background is the only reference for a massive (and firmly rooted) hedge that spans the center gutter, leaving the two boys on the left and something else on the right. Depending on their discussion and questions (and answers) the "other" on the right is either amorphous or vaguely familiar or actually not "other" at all. 

The dialogue between the boys is nearly Socratic in terms of questions not only the specifics of "others" but also the nature of ourselves. The  hoys are not confrontational, but curious, convinced but becoming eventually allowing for patterns that challenge earlier assumptions. When potential similarities are considered, the questions allow for anything being possible, which only calls on common sense to affirm that those others most likely are very much like themselves. 

The ultimate question arises when the questioning boy climbs over and is no longer "there" with his friend but is on the side of the others. Does that make him "other"?  If each feels they are "here" then what does that make the other on either side? And how many other divisive hedges and others could there be? And if all have more in common than unalike, are we all "here" together? The final page spreads with pull back to geographic expanses, and ultimately a view of our planet from space, feel perfectly timed to share with discussions and images from the recent Moon orbit flight. Even those travelers, circling the moon, are part of our life HERE. We are each others' "others", and we are more one than we typically choose to see. history, birds, 

I am as much a fan of philosophy as I am of history, birds, and other topics shared in these posts. When it comes to picture books, though, I tend to favor subtlety over the obvious. Too often I find that direct discussions of broad concepts become a bit didactic or preachy. In this case, though, I found myself fully engaged with the two boys and their verbal journey through the pages. Picture books tend to need changing scenes, a strong plot or challenges, certainly nothing as "static" as this arrangement provides. The shifts come on the right spread, where those "others' reflect the changing considerations about them taking place on the other side of the hedge. Even so, the power of thought and discussion feels like the star of this book, and the impact of openness, a willingness to think and reflect felt like a potential conversation between friends. Especially young ones. 

If only more adults could be as open to thinking and considering their assumptions and fears as these boys are. I'm hoping perhaps some adults might learn from them. 

If you missed a prior post about the ultimate results of OTHERING people as described in  UNBREAKABLE, I hope you'll take a moment to read it now, HERE.