When Granddad picks Ava up from school one Thursday afternoon, she's quiet. She doesn't want to talk about the lockdown drill that has stirred up her worries.

How can she be so afraid in a place that has always felt so safe?

Granddad doesn't talk much either; he just offers creativity and companionship. And with his gentle encouragement, Ava begins to sense that although the world can be scary, it is still a beautiful place.

With tender insight, One Thursday Afternoon sheds light on how an unpredictable world can make a child feel, reminding us that big fears can become smaller when we take time together to look, listen, and create. An author's note about the story's real-life inspiration and recommendations for how adults can help children overcome fear is included.

"Adults may learn a trick or two from Granddad's model of patience, acceptance, communication, and support, while sensitive children will see they are not alone and that it's OK to feel upset. . . . A sweet, specific, and straightforward tale of dealing with good and bad in the world." --Kirkus Reviews

Dilorenzo, Barbara

Barbara DiLorenzo's first picture book was Renato and the Lion, which received a starred review from Booklist and was named a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Junior Library Guild selection, and a CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. She is also the author and illustrator of Quincy: The Chameleon Who Couldn't Blend In, a finalist for the Crystal Kite Award. A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, she has taught at the Arts Council of Princeton and the New York Institute of Art + Design. She lives with her family in central New Jersey. For more information, visit www.barbaradilorenzo.com.