I want to live in Bob Graham books. In this one, he takes us all over the city to get a snapshot of what's happening as Jodie's baby brother takes his first step. Beautiful. ( )

The Silver Button is a book written by Bob Graham that follows Jodie's little brother Jonathan and the first steps. In those few seconds, everyday life is happening all around them. Mom was busy playing her pennywhistle, while a pigeon built her nest on the roof, while an early morning jogger ran by, kids played, people bought food from the grocery, and people lived their lives. In those few seconds, so many things occurred while Jonathan took his first steps. As Jodie finished placing her silver buttons on her duck drawing, she told mom that Jonathan just took his first steps. "Sunlight streamed through the window and the clock struck ten." I love how Bob Graham used sunlight as a symbol of happiness in so many of his books. ( )

As Jodie works on her drawing of a duck, about to add the last silver button on his shirt, her baby brother Jonathan takes his momentous first step. At exactly that moment, all manner of things are occurring around Jodie and Jonathan's house and neighborhood. From a pigeon nesting to a jogger jogging, from an ambulance shrieking by to a grandfather and granddaughter playing in the park, life in the city goes on. For Jodie and her mother however, and for Jonathan (obviously), this isn't like any other moment...

I simply adore Australian author/artist Bob Graham's many warmhearted picture-books, with their lovely depiction of contemporary families, and their connection to the world around them. The Silver Button is yet another example of such a story, and I found the use of perspective here, as the narrative examines one moment in time, first in one home, then drawing back and out, to a wider canvas, and then refocusing again on that one home, particularly well done. The artwork, as is usually the case with Graham, is amusing and very expressive. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about milestones (like a first step) and/or about perspective, as well as to Bob Graham fans. ( )

I'm speechless. Read the other reviews, and read everything by Graham you can find. Perfect. ( )

As Jodie adds the last silver button to her drawing of a duck, her baby brother takes his first step. At the same time that her brother takes his first step, there are countless other events happening in Jodie’s town and across the world. An ambulance drives down the street, phones ring off the wall, dogs play along the shore, a soldier says good-bye, and a truck heads all the way to China. All in one moment, the world is creating its own story with the numerous events taking place.
Graham’s simple, yet amazingly brilliant book, describes a wonderful collection of events that take place all in one single minute. As each event takes place, the story of life unfolds. ( )