This achingly beautiful picture book about a sad, frightened, exhausted animal that appears one day with a large suitcase is one of the best books written about how to explain to children the need for love and empathy when dealing with strangers. The three animals he meets in this new place are quick to query what is in the suitcase. He explains that there is a teacup, a table and chair, and his home on a hillside. The other animals are incredulous. How can this be? But the stranger falls into a sound sleep, and the fox, the bird and the dog are left wondering. The fox doesn’t trust him, the bird says he seems very unusual, and the dog decides they should let him sleep. But the fox won’t stop at this; he believes there is no truth in the animal’s story and gets a stone to break the lock on the suitcase. What they find inside is a broken teacup and a picture of a little house with the stranger sitting outside at a table, drinking his tea. The animals are (rightly) appalled at what they have done, and the stranger when he awakes discovers that the three friends have built him another little house with a table and chair in front, along with the mended teacup. Their new friend is delighted, and proclaims there is only one problem they will need more teacups. The illustrations are outstanding with lots of white backgrounds that make the basic pictures stand out beautifully. Each animal’s dialogue is printed in the colour of that animal. We see the stranger dreaming about his journey, ‘running away and hiding, climbing over mountains…and swimming across deep waters.’ All this is portrayed movingly and beautifully. This is a book that belongs in every primary school, preferably in every class!