Grandmother Thorn - Hardcover

Howes, Katey

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0991386698 ISBN 13: 9780991386697

Publisher: Chicago Review Press-Ripple Grove Press, 2017

Synopsis

Nominee:
2017 Cybils Award, Best Fiction Picture Book, Children's and Young Adult

Grandmother Thorn treasures her garden, where not a leaf, twig or pebble is allowed out of place. But when a persistent plant sprouts without her permission, Grandmother begins to unravel. “Her hair became as tangled as the vines on her fence. Her garden fell into disrepair. One morning, she did not rake the path.” A dear friend, the passage of seasons, and a gift only nature can offer help Grandmother Thorn discover that some things are beyond our control, and that sweetness can blossom in unexpected places.

About this title

About the Author

Katey Howes is a former physical therapist who now writes full time from her home office. She loves connecting kids with the natural world through exploration, art, and science. She lives in Chesterfield, New Jersey. Rebecca Hahn is an artist who enjoys working with a diverse range of media including animation. She previously worked for the Walt Disney Company where she drew the Winnie the Pooh characters for the Consumer Products Division. She has since left the corporate world to work from her studio where she continues to create for business and pleasure, tending to her long time loves of story, concept, and craft. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

From School Library Journal

Gr 1–3—In this parablelike story, nothing disturbs Grandmother Thorn's well-tended garden. With eyes narrowed and sharply etched frown lines, she maintains every leaf and pebble in its proper place. Grandmother Thorn values tidiness and symmetry above all else, ripping out weeds and chasing away birds with her gravelly voice and rake raised high. The only crack in her well-ordered life is her friendship with Ojiisan ("grandfather" in Japanese), who walks with a slow, shuffling gait and provides her with sweets and good conversation. Knowing her fondness for sweets, he sends a berry peddler her way, but Grandmother Thorn chases him away when he breaks off one of her blooms. One stray berry takes root in the garden, and though Grandmother Thorn battles the stubborn offshoot, it reappears each day. The woman falls ill, and in her absence, Ojiisan tends the garden. When she returns, the berry plant sports colorful fruit, and birds, squirrels, and bunnies have moved in. Grandmother Thorn has a change of heart. Hahn's impressive eye-catching illustrations with intricate designs and shapes dominated by strong lines give the pictures a layered look. Intriguing sewn and painted patterns and details enhance the story, with its Japanese setting and phrases. VERDICT This well-crafted tale offers a gentle lesson of stewardship and living in peace with nature. Teachers and parents will appreciate its story, and readers of all ages will delight in its appealing design.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

About this edition

• Publisher: Chicago Review Press-Ripple Grove Press
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0991386698
• ISBN 13: 9780991386697
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 44
• Illustrator: Hahn Rebecca