E-book Category: Illustrated Picture Books E-book Title: A GIFT FOR ROO Author: Max and Ariana Overton Book Description: A seven-year-old girl, living with her father, a Biologist in the local University in Australia, is trying to cope with the loss of her mother and her loneliness.
One rainy day, she spots a small baby caterpillar floating down a flooded gutter on a twig. She rescues the caterpillar and takes it home with her, feeling she finally has a friend to keep her company. She shows the little one to her father who decides to let her keep it and uses the experience to teach Roo about the smaller creatures in our world; creatures ignored, abused and taken for granted by most people. Roo calls the caterpillar Little Max in honor of her father.
As the caterpillar develops, Roo discovers truths about growing up and loss relating to her dead mother. Roo comes to realize that all life is a cycle, not painful but necessary. She finally comes to terms with her mother's death and knows she's not really alone in the world.
