Lost. Found. by Marsha Diane Arnold, illustrated by Matthew Cordell, is a seasonal picture book with only two words—“lost” and “found”—repeated throughout its beautifully illustrated pages. The spare use of language allows the art to tell a heartwarming story about woodland animals, individuality, and sharing.   

When preschool teacher Edward Rodriguez of Shubert Elementary School in Baldwin, New York, shared Lost. Found. with his bilingual classroom, he discovered how students can tell stories of their own as he turned the pages.

Watch to see how using Lost. Found. can work as an interactive read-aloud with preschoolers. For Mr. Rodriguez, it gave students a chance to engage with the book—in two different languages—interpreting for themselves what happens as one scarf is passed from animal to animal on a snowy day in the woods.