One day, when Emma and her mom are hiking through Cherry Hill Forest, they spot a blue tent in the snow — and inside lives a woman named Margaret!
Emma wonders why she’s there, until Mom, who is a social worker, explains: “Some people have lost their job. Some have a health problem. No one chooses to be homeless.”
Emma picks out a red hat, a scarf and a pair of mittens to keep Margaret warm, and she and her mom visit Margaret throughout the winter. But in the spring, Margaret is gone! Emma is worried, and wonders what has happened to her.
Seasons pass and Emma finally spots a woman downtown wearing red mittens! She is relieved — and she knows that there’s one more thing she and her Mom can do to show Margaret that they care about her.
A sensitive portrayal of a person experiencing homelessness, as seen through the eyes of a child. Includes an author’s note.