Sam and Jump [Hardcover]

A charmingly simple tale about friends, old and new, that will resonate with anyone who’s ever loved — and lost — a special toy.

Sam and his stuffed bunny, Jump, are best friends, and they do everything together. One day, on a trip to the beach, Sam meets Thomas. Sam and Thomas play together all day and promise to do the same the next day. But when Sam gets home he realizes Jump is still at the beach! It’s too late and too dark to go find him, and Sam worries all night. What if Jump is nowhere to be found? Can Sam brave the world without his best friend? Little ones with their own cherished toys will be drawn to this reassuring story about losing something dear only to gain something even better.With its simple sentences (set in a typeface that has an understated poignancy), roundheaded characters, and softly colored watercolor-and-ink renderings, Mann’s (I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard) story raises some powerful and provocative questions about loyalty, responsibility, and friendship...both adults and kids should find this ostensibly unassuming story offers significant food for thought.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Sweet, endearingly simple illustrations created with pencil, watercolor, and "digital magic" judiciously use white space to focus attention on inseparable Sam and Jump sharing tea, soaping up in the tub, and sitting side-by-side on a tree branch and in an overstuffed chair...Kids with their own favorite toys will identify with this gentle, tender tale of Sam and Jump's special bond.
—Kirkus Reviews

The pastel-hued watercolor, pencil, and digital illustrations are absorbing and encapsulate both the summery feel of the beach and Sam’s range of emotions. This familiar and cheerfully told saga will resonate with many tots.
—Booklist Online

An endearing story about friendship...Young children will enjoy and empathlƒG