Sam’s best friend is Jump, a small stuffed rabbit. Sam and Jump do everything together. On a trip to the beach, Sam and Jump meet Thomas. The two boys have a wonderful day playing in the sand and water. But in the car going home, Sam realizes he left Jump behind. It’s an awful night. “Sam could not eat his dinner. Even a bedtime story didn’t help.” His thoughts are filled with scenes of Jump in peril. The next day Sam heads to the beach right away. No Jump. But here comes Thomas. And who does he have with him? A child’s deep emotional attachment to a stuffed toy is at the heart of this masterful picture book that also celebrates friendship. The perfectly spare text is paired with equally spare yet emotionally resonant illustrations. Joy, tension, heartbreak, relief, and joy once again. Sam is a white child and Thomas is brown-skinned. (Ages 3–6)

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.