AND WHAT COMES AFTER A THOUSAND?
by Anette Bley & illustrated by Anette Bley
When her elderly friend dies, a little girl struggles to understand. Otto may use a cane, but he’s Lisa’s special friend who knows everything about gardens and always has emergency cookies in his pocket. He teaches Lisa to count and tells her “numbers never end.” Together they count stars, spit out cherry pits and dance in celebration when Lisa hits her first bull’s eye with the slingshot Otto made for her. But one day Otto becomes ill and gradually weakens. Lisa stays with him until he dies. At Otto’s funeral, a grieving Lisa feels angry, sad and confused as she tries to understand why Otto has left her. After the funeral, Lisa realizes that just because she can’t see Otto any more, he remains in her memories, which, like numbers, never end. The heartfelt pastel illustrations that brim with joy and life when Otto is alive turn somber and subdued as he weakens and dies. This touching story celebrates intergenerational bonds and offers a comforting lesson in loss. (Picture book. 4-6)