ALWAYS THERE, ROCKING CHAIR

Eaddy’s picture book portrays domestic life in a quiet rural locale, epitomized by an ever-present rocking chair.

In a small country town, on the porch of a low-set wooden house, an old yellow rocking chair creaks to the tune of the breeze: “Eee-um, eee-um, eee-um.” It rocks by the light of dawn and by the rooster’s crow. It rocks when neighbors come to tea, and when children play games, and when people read books and when dusk falls; it rocks through the passing of seasons. When a big storm hits, the house is damaged, and the chair is blown away; the owners, preoccupied with repairs, don’t immediately notice it’s missing. Only after the house is fixed up does the absence start to nag at them. They undertake a search and find the chair broken amid the bushes. They put it back together and it resumes its place, more consciously noted by the people in their day-to-day contentment. Eaddy writes in straightforward, non-rhyming prose, perfectly pitched to capture the tranquil passing of days. Debut illustrator Jezzus combines hand-sketched illustrations with watercolor hues to portray a large, contented family at peace with their surroundings; the characters are all portrayed with brown skin. Scattered among the single-page pictures, five double-page spreads prove particularly striking in their depictions of the open country in splendorous shades.

A gentle exploration of family comforts.