Together: A Book about Community

Written and illustrated by Elise Gravel

North Winds Press (Scholastic Canada)

978-1-0397-1283-6

40 pp.

Ages 6–9

October 2025

 

As Canadians head into their Thanksgiving weekend, many will be thinking about the concept of community. What is a community? Why should we have communities? Do I have a community? How do I make a community? While a big concept in general, community will be a vague concept for young children. They might know the benefits of community, but grasping the nuances of community may be more challenging. Thankfully, Elise Gravel, author-illustrator of concept books like It's My Brain! (2024),  It's My Body! (2022), and Everybody! (2021), is heartily up for that challenge.

 

From Together: A Book about Community, written and illustrated by Elise Gravel

In Together: A Book about Community, Elise Gravel begins with statements about living in groups because it makes us feel safe and wanted. She show her colourful monsters helping those in need with medical attention, or sharing their food with those without, or lending a hand as needed. She even depicts one monster helping another who is being bullied for being different. The message is clear: Together we are better, safer, and happier.

From Together: A Book about Community, written and illustrated by Elise Gravel

Still, Elise Gravel is realistic in accepting that we don't always like other people, whether it is because they make us feel inadequate or unsafe. But, by rectifying injustice, sharing, and helping others, we build communities that are strong and safe and in which everyone feels respected.

From Together: A Book about Community, written and illustrated by Elise Gravel

Elise Gravel's little monsters again help young children understand a challenging concept like community. It's clear that her message is that we all belong and, with that belonging, comes strength and goodness. She doesn't make Together: A Book about Community a preachy book about getting along with others—although that message is clear—or how to make a community. Instead, Elise Gravel presents it as something to consider. In other words, if you help build community, these are the great things that happen for you and others. And because Elise Gravel's monsters are so adorable and completely unscary, as well as diverse in so many ways, the idea is demonstrated with delightful humour and unusual clarity. Togetherness has never been so much fun or so understandably constructive.

From Together: A Book about Community, written and illustrated by Elise Gravel