The loss of a parent could be a life-changing event for any child. What can the living parent do to help the little one cope with grief and bewilderment? Some Days by María Wenicke suggests a very subtle and unusual approach through a heart-warming story. Check it out and enter to win a copy!
About the Book:
Written and Illustrated by María Wenicke
Translated by Lawrence Schimel
A young girl tells her mother about a passageway in their yard. Down this passageway, it is not cold, there is no danger, and nothing bad can ever happen — and the person she longs for is with her again. The only problem is that, on some days, the passageway is not there. But maybe, together, mother and daughter can find a way to carry that feeling with them always.
First published in Argentina, this lovely picture book will tug on the heartstrings of anyone who knows what it means to miss a loved one.
Order your copy on Amazon!
My Review:
The book recounts the tableside conversation between a little girl and her mom regarding a passageway she finds that can lead her to her deceased dad. With only a few sentences and simple illustrations featuring four colors - gray, red, orange and green, the author leaves a lot of blanks in the storyline for the reader to fill in with their own imagination and interpretation. At a closer look at the pictures, you may spot some interesting hints dropped by the author-illustrator, but they might have different implications for different readers.
The illustration reveals the little girl's intense feelings about her dad as well as her efforts to act like a big girl while dad is gone (e.g. helping mom hang the laundry and clean the table). I can't help guessing that her dad might have died when he tried to save her from drowning. In the passageway, why is she swimming with her dad in the field? That her mom's coat changes from gray to red when the little girl gets hugged seems to suggest that her mom will play the role of both parents from then on.
I love how the mom shows understanding for her daughter's feelings and offers to look for the passageway to reconnect with their lost family member together. The ending picture of the dad's hat resting on top of the folded laundry (i.e. passageway) leaves us a sweet note about how much has been accomplished during this mother-daughter conversation.
The story is truly touching and thought-provoking. Written for kids aged 6-8, it might be a bit too hard for younger readers to fully comprehend. It's a book I'd read together with my children.
About the Author:
María Wernicke is an award-winning Argentinian author and illustrator of children’s books. She is a 2020 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award nominee. Her illustrations have been part of multiple international exhibits, including at the Bratislava Biennial exhibition and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, among others. Learn more about the author at www.maria wernicke.blogspot.com. Follow her on Instagram: @wernicke_maria
About the Translator:
Lawrence Schimel is a bilingual author and translator, with more than one hundred books to his credit. His children’s books have won a Crystal Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and have been selected for lists of outstanding titles by the International Board on Books for Young People. His translated books include Wanda Gàg’s Millions of Cats and George Takei’s graphic novel They Called Us Enemy, among many others. He lives in Madrid, Spain.
Amazon Crossing Kids has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a hardcover copy of Some Days! Open to US & Canada 18+ only. Please enter using the form below. Good luck!
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Disclosure: I received a free book to facilitate my honest review. All views and opinions expressed are my own. icefairy's Treasure Chest is not responsible for prize fulfillment.
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