One of my mom's favorite treasures was this mosaic of the jewelry
she wore during her early years as a wife and mom.
My sister ended up with this one, so I'm planning to make something similar for our wall out of the pins and pendants from her later years. It's a fun way to remember her and keep her close.
And it reminds me a little bit of today's PPBF.
Title: The Mosaic
Author: Deborah Kelly
Illustrator: Nicky Johnston
Publisher: EK Books
Birth Date: October 15, 2024
Suitable for: ages 5-8
Themes: family, divorce, feelings
Brief synopsis: When Mama's vase broke and Frankie's dad moves out and it feels like her family is fracturing, Nan steps in to help her bounce forward as she puts the broken pieces back together.
Opening page: The day Mama's vase broke, everything changed.
Resources:
Watch the book's trailer {here}.
Read a comprehensive book review {here}.
Find out what they think at What Book Next? {here}.
Make a mosaic heart from old pottery pieces (or colored paper).
Why I like this book: This author/illustrator due did a beautiful job of compassionately covering the topic of family changes, starting with the opening page, on which its reader almost can hear the vase come crashing to the floor while feeling the angst and desperation of trying to pick up those broken pieces. It's so relatable; who among us hasn't been in a situation where something treasured fell to the ground and shattered? Then we're told dad went away and Mama stayed in bed, only to feel Frankie's sorrowful hopelessness more profoundly.
Enter Nan, to pick up the pieces, literally and figuratively. And off she and her grandjoy go to the gallery, where Nan will help Frankie understand what's happening as they inch toward acceptance and healing.
Use it not only with someone going through family separations and divorce, but also through other changes, like moves, an illness, a new job.
Check out this hope-filled newcomer;
I think it'll capture your heart like it has mine.
Then head to Susanna Hill's blog for today's other PPBF recs.
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