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THE FORGETTERY

Name: THE FORGETTERY
Author: Rachel Ip
ISBN: 978-0-00-855724-9

by Rachel Ip ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 6, 2022

A tender reminder that memories may fade but love lasts forever.

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A British import about memories.

Young Amelia has a forgetful grandmother. The colorful, detailed title-page illustration shows Post-it notes everywhere reminding Granny to “water the plants” and to take her key. Out exploring in the forest one day, Amelia and Granny come across The Forgettery—a magical place inside a giant tree where “you can find anything you have ever forgotten.” Greeted by the Memory Keeper, Amelia tells him that they’ve forgotten the way home. He invites them to climb aboard a hot air balloon, and the two are delivered to Granny’s Forgettery, a space filled with memories (it is very large, Granny being very forgetful). There, Granny sifts through fond memories. Afterward, they head to Amelia’s Forgettery (much smaller) until a delivery of a clock reminds them that it’s time to go home. The Memory Keeper hands them a map to The Way Home, and off they go. Prompted by a letter the Memory Keeper gave her, Amelia creates a scrapbook, writing down Granny’s memories from the Forgettery along with names and photos. This is a quiet story of intergenerational connection told with compassion. The graceful, impressionistic illustrations make effective use of color and whimsical details; Granny’s beloved memories—images of a younger Granny set against smudgy reds and oranges—are an especially nice touch. Amelia and Granny are light-skinned, while the Memory Keeper is dark-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A tender reminder that memories may fade but love lasts forever. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-00-855724-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Farshore/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
ONE DAY AT A TIME
by Rachel Ip ; illustrated by Natelle Quek

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GOLDIE'S GUIDE TO GRANDCHILDING

by Clint McElroy ; illustrated by Eliza Kinkz ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Intended as an amusing parody, this groans with outdated irrelevance and immaturity.

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While spending the day with Grandpa, young Goldie offers tips on the care and keeping of grandparents.

Though “loyal and loving,” Goldie’s grandfather proves to be quite a character. At Grandparents Day at school, his loud greeting and incessant flatulence are embarrassing, but Goldie is confident that he—and all grandparents—can be handled with the “right care and treatment.” The young narrator notes that playtime should involve the imagination rather than technology—“and NO video games. It’s just too much for them.” Goldie observes that grandparents “live on a diet of all the things your parents tell them are bad for them” but finds that Grandpa’s favorite fast-food restaurant does make for a great meal out. The narrator advises that it’s important for grandparents to get plenty of exercise; Grandpa’s favorite moves include “the Bump, the Hustle, and the Funky Chicken.” The first-person instruction and the artwork—drawn in a childlike scrawl—portray this grandfather in a funny, though unflattering, stereotypical light as he pulls quarters from Goldie’s ears, burps on command, and invites Goldie to pull his finger. Goldie’s grandfather seems out of touch with today’s more tech-savvy and health-oriented older people who are eager to participate with their grandchildren in contemporary activities. Though some grandparent readers may chuckle, kids may wonder how this mirrors their own relationships. Goldie and Grandpa are light-skinned; Goldie’s classmates are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Intended as an amusing parody, this groans with outdated irrelevance and immaturity. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: March 29, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-250-24932-6

Page Count: 40

Publisher: First Second

Review Posted Online: April 12, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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GRANDFATHER COUNTS

by Andrea Cheng & illustrated by Ange Zhang ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2000

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Cheng’s story of a Chinese-speaking grandfather who comes to live with his daughter’s English-speaking family ably communicates the difficulties of the language barrier, and the unanticipated joys that come from working your way through that barrier. Helen is ambivalent about the arrival of her grandfather, Gong Gong, from China. She wants to know her grandfather, but she has had to surrender her room and her cherished view of the train tracks to him. Worst of all, he doesn’t understand what she says, and as she doesn’t understand him, he withdraws. Her mother says to give him some space and time. One day while Helen is sitting on the back wall, Gong Gong joins her, and together they count the train cars as the freight rumbles past. Contact. Helen learns the first eight numbers in Chinese and Gong Gong learns them in English. From there it is a short leap to Helen’s Chinese name and its Chinese characters, and then the letters used to spell Helen. That every journey starts with a first step is a commonplace conceit, but here the notion fits so snugly the point practically sings, and it feels like an adventurous beginning at that. Lushly colored artwork from Zhang is both elegant and captures the moods of tentativeness, surprise, and satisfaction. (Picture book. 4-6)