A Notes from the Windowsill annotated bibliography by Wendy E. Betts. Copyright 2006
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Last Updated 10/26/05
Sophie by Mem Fox. Illustrated by Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson. Harcourt Brace, 1994 (0-15-277160-3) $13.95
Sophie is a deceptively simple
story about a grandpa and granddaughter who never stop loving each
other, even when time has reversed their physical roles. Although
very touching and beautifully written, this book may be too subtle for
its intended audience: the symbolical symmetry of the plot and the
theme of rebirth seen in the ending may seem like an easy way to
approach the subject of aging and death, but most young children won't
be developmentally ready to understand it. The bold, vividly colored
illustrations are also somewhat challenging, with oddly proportioned
people and crowded scenes that are difficult to decipher. A lovely
book for the right child. (5-8)
Remember Me by Margaret Wild. Illustrated by Dee Huxley.
Margaret
Hamilton Books, 1990; Albert Whitman, 1995 (0-8075-6934-8) $14.95
Ellie wants to take her grandmother out to the park and the shops and to watch the ships come in--but Grandma is afraid to go. If she leaves the house, will she remember where she lives? Where are her keys and her handbag? Where is the bus stop? Grandma is afraid she's beginning to forget everything--but when Ellie throws her arms around her and cries, "Oh, Grandma, please remember. Please, please, please remember me," she realizes that she still has many wonderful memories left, even if she does forget to bring in the milk and pay the bills. And one day soon, she'll tie "the biggest knot ever" in her hanky, and go with Ellie to watch the ships come in.
Narrated, unusually, from the grandmother's point of view, this
touching story gives young readers a sense of how disorienting and
frightening it is to lose one's memory, yet also offers the
reassurance that their loved ones will always do their best to
remember them. Although the book leaves out some of the probable hard
consequences of Grandma's memory loss, the ending seems valiant and
life-affirming rather than dishonestly cheerful. Huxley's sweet and
funny watercolor illustrations beautifully express the two characters
and the strength of their affection, portraying an exuberant but
caring Ellie and a large, comfortable Grandma whose disability has not
vanquished her underlying strength and courage. *
Utterly Yours, Booker Jones by Betsy Duffy. Viking, 1995 (0-670-86007-7) $13.99; Puffin, 1997 (0-14-037496-5) $3.99 pb
Forced to live under the dining room table after his injured
grandfather moves into his room, Booker Jones finds consolation in
writing stories about Space Cows, Moon Mummies and the horrible
Sistoid monster, aka his older sister Libba. But the pressures at
home make it increasingly hard to concentrate, and when Booker is
faced with writing a speech for an important school rally, he suffers
his first bout of writer's block. Booker feels like he's "lost his
faith in happy endings"--until he reads his grandfather's old
newspaper columns and finds some surprising answers to his problems.
Enlivened by snippets from Booker's ridiculous stories, this book is a
generally lighthearted look at family troubles, but with a satisfying
underlying thoughtfulness and respect for its characters. (9-13)
Rosa and Her Singing Grandfather by Leon Rosselson.
Illustrated by Marcia Sewall. Philomel, 1996 (0-399-22733-4)
Rosa doesn't have a father--she can't remember ever having one--but most of the time she doesn't mind, because she has a grandfather. And even though Grandad can be a little forgetful and embarrassing to be around, and Rosa's mother is always telling her to "look after him" and "make sure he doesn't get into any mischief," still, having a grandfather is special. Especially when he can tell wonderful stories and sing songs that make scary things in the dark go away.
This warm and likeable story, by a notable English folk singer, is a
lovely demonstration of the importance of relationships between the
young and the old, subtly showing the value of time spent with someone
who has stories to tell, memories to share, and a well-developed
individual spirit. Grandad is not only amusing and comforting, but
his fearless unconventionality lights the way for Rosa to discover how
to be her own person. And the gifts aren't just one-sided: for
Grandad, Rosa is a special link between the past and the future,
preserving a little bit of her grandma in her big brown eyes and
carrying on his power of singing to make things come out right.
(7-10)
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