A story set in the 1940s begins with a young boy and his mother seeing his father off to war. Worried about what will happen with his father gone, the boy feels fearful of small things and big things. Scared of the air raid sirens and spooked by the big horses pulling wagons down his street, the boy struggles to quiet his fears. Meanwhile he collects pennies, hoping to buy something worthy to send to his dad for his birthday. Rich watercolor illustrations portray the boy’s reactions to the large horses that help deliver the milk, and collect newspapers, scrap metal, and garbage. The boy balks at the chance to have his picture taken on a pony, but then accepts the opportunity as a way to overcome his fear and to make his father proud. An author’s note provides a brief explanation of what life was like for kids on the United States home front during World War II in a heartening picture book with luminous watercolor paintings. (Ages 7–11)