The Silver Button [Paperback]

“This is an elegant piece of living theater. . . . A book to bathe in, reminding readers that something magical is happening every instant.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

At 9:59 on a Thursday morning, Jodie draws a duck. As she’s about to add a silver button to the duck’s boot, her little brother, Jonathan, takes his first step. At the exact same moment, a man buys fresh bread at the bakery, a baby is born, a soldier says good-bye to his mom. . . . From an ordinary scene in an apartment strewn with a child’s artwork to a bird’s-eye view of a city morning pulsing with life, Bob Graham celebrates a whole world-vision in a single moment.This is an elegant piece of living theater, something into which readers can nestle and observe. ... A book to bathe in, reminding readers that something magical is happening every instant.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

In his inimitable, deceptively simple style, Graham celebrates what can happen in a single moment and reminds readers to pause and observe. ... While the story is minimal, there is a lot to see and absorb. The detailed pictures bear repeated inspection, the characters are appealing, and the story is very child-oriented. This unusual offering will enhance collections and work equally well in classrooms or one-on-one.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

In this quiet, thought-provoking picture book, Graham marvels at the myriad things that transpire in a moment’s time. ... Graham deftly depicts an array of perspectives in his signature ink-and-watercolor artwork...The understated sentences gently encapsulate moments that are mundane, melancholy, and joyful, encouraging readers to ponder all that might be happening in the world at any given instant.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

[F]amiliar, homespun artwork and simple observations... [A] slightly older crowd will have the sense, elóå