#blogbookaday: Away
Summary: “Love shines through in the sticky notes shared between a mother and daughter in this picture book about making time for family in the midst of our busy lives.
Between work and school, homework and housework, a mother and daughter don’t always get to spend as much time together as they’d like. Add to that a little girl’s fears about leaving home for the first time, and the need to stay close through handwritten notes becomes even more important. As the camp departure date gets closer, Mom does her best to soothe her daughter’s nerves. A visit from her grandmother helps to calm her fears and convince her that she’ll have a good time, even away from her mother and beloved cat. Camp ends up being a wonderful adventure – but nothing is sweeter than a back-at-home reunion.
Qin Leng’s watercolor illustrations are the perfect complement to Emil Sher’s simple text. This nuanced story about a parent and child’s unconventional way of connecting is full of humor and affection. Young readers will enjoy spotting Lester the cat as he paws his way into the story.” (Taken from Goodreads)
Review: The little girl in this story is adamant about not going to summer camp, she’s not going to borrow her friend’s sleeping bag for more than a night, she’s not going to pack, she’s just not going. But, her mother is firm, yet caring as she continues to tell her daughter that camp is a great experience. And so, with a little convincing from grandma, the little girl goes to camp at the end of the story (and of course, has a great time!).
Personal Reaction: I don’t know of many picture books about going to summer camp and this one about being nervous to be away from home, told in its own unique style is a great resource for a chid’s first foray into summer camp. I loved the mom and daughter’s interaction through notes and how calm, yet sure the mom was through her daughter’s doubts. But, the thing I enjoyed the most was that the mom and little girl didn’t look the same – they had a different skin tone that is not addressed in the book at all. The book itself focuses on their relationship, you don’t see any mention of a father or whether the little girl was adopted by the mother and I think it’s refreshing to see that type of diversity without necessarily having to explain it.
Title: Away
Author: Emil Sher
Illustrator: Qin Leng
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Publication Date: April 11, 2017
This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!