Outside, Inside

written & illustrated by LeUyen Pham

48 pages, 3-6 years; published 2021 by Roaring Brook Press

What a simple, and yet remarkable, story about how the COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives. Pham expertly combines her words and illustrations so that they enhance one another. Sometimes sparse, vague wording is paired with a detailed illustration, and other times specific phrases include a simple illustration that adds emotional context. At the heart of Inside, Outside is the fact that we are all the same inside. Pham does a wonderful job of showing how diverse we are on the outside too. She also gives a well-deserved shout out to all the first responders and essential workers that have kept us going throughout the pandemic. A must read, and a joy to see.