Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're playing host to a stop along the Random House Children's Books tour starring a NEW Picture Book that just happens to be celebrating its BOOK BIRTHDAY! The title alone gives you a clue about the story within, but what it doesn't do is show the amount of love that comes along with it. Ladies and gents, please welcome today's book of choice...
by
Jiyeon Pak
9780525581086
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
About the book...
A tender family story that offers a gentle window into the issue of aging and memory loss for young readers.
Grandma loves teatime–and so does her granddaughter–from picking out a special cup, to brewing the tea, to sharing stories at the table. But lately, Grandma seems forgetful. She doesn’t always remember to turn off the faucet when filling the teakettle. Sometimes she even confuses her granddaughter’s name. How one little girl helps her grandmother remember their special ritual makes for a heartwarming story that will strike a chord with any family coping with elderly relatives who suffer from memory loss.
Grandma loves teatime–and so does her granddaughter–from picking out a special cup, to brewing the tea, to sharing stories at the table. But lately, Grandma seems forgetful. She doesn’t always remember to turn off the faucet when filling the teakettle. Sometimes she even confuses her granddaughter’s name. How one little girl helps her grandmother remember their special ritual makes for a heartwarming story that will strike a chord with any family coping with elderly relatives who suffer from memory loss.
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At first glance, it's a cute Picture Book featuring a little girl and her grandmother...sharing tea, fun times, and memories as they wile the day away content in each other's company. The illustrations are not overly detailed, nor is emphasis stressed on everything looking as perfect as can be, but it simple adds to the warmth of the story. Now, upon closer inspection, we can see all that is hiding in plain site...
What may be hiding, you ask? Well, it's not so much HIDING as it is things that reveal themselves after your initial introduction and as the story progresses. You see, Grandmother is getting on in years and has much to share with her darling granddaughter, but some thing start to slip now and again. A misplaced teacup here, a forgotten sink filled with water there, and a handful of other unusual new homes or situations. Sound scary? Please...don't let it be...because the author does a wonderful job with the subject she's broached. It's a charming story that tackles a big topic in a heartfelt and tender way, perfect for helping set little minds at ease, while reminding bigger minds that it doesn't signal an end, merely a new sort of beginning. It gives us that nudge to pay closer attention to those around us because one day, it may be US starting the "do you remember when" story that brings laughter to their eyes and a smile to their hearts.
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About the author...
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| From the author's site AND this story! |
Jiyeon Pak is originally from Seoul, South Korea. She studied illustration at Maryland Institute College of Art, where she earned a master’s degree. Kirkus Reviews said her first book, MY GRANDPA’S CHAIR “warms the soul,” while School Library Journal called it “brilliantly illustrated.” Pak now lives in Baltimore, MD. You can find her at hello-jiyeon.com.
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Special thanks to Joey at Random House Children's Books for the copy for review as well as the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now via Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
