If You Miss Me - Hardcover

Li Langrand, Jocelyn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1338680692 ISBN 13: 9781338680690

Publisher: Orchard Books, 2021

Synopsis

A healing story of loss and love, this beautiful picture book reminds us that the people who mean the most to us are always with us.

Charlie loves to dance her way through life with her grandma. They may not always be together, but each time they part Grandma says, "If you miss me, look at the moon." Then winter brings unexpected change, and not even dancing feels the same. What will Charlie do? Will Grandma come to see her dance again? In the biggest show of the year, Charlie finds her answer. This tender exploration of loss from debut author-illustrator Jocelyn Li Langrand illuminates the boundless power of love to help and heal.

About this title

About the Author

Jocelyn Li Langrand is an author/illustrator and visual designer. Originally from China, she now lives in the California Bay Area, and finds that her heritage and travel influence everything she creates. If You Miss Me is her first picture book. Visit her at jocelynlilangrand.com.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 1—Charlie dances through life, and her adoring grandmother loves to watch her. While they cannot be together, Grandmother tells Charlie to look at the moon if she misses her, and she will do the same. The time soon comes when grandmother cannot travel, and then she passes away; Charlie is lost, unable to dance as she did before. It is the moon, and her memory of Grandmother, that helps her dance again and recover from her grief and loneliness. Langrand's delightful digital images sometimes spread over full pages; other times they are vignettes, two to a page. Though simple, the illustrations amplify the joy of dancing on stage and all over town, the sadness of saying goodbye when Charlie has to go home to the city, and the cold desolation of winter without Grandmother. Although not specifically described, the family appears to be Asian in an area of Eastern houses and scenery, but there are characters of other races in Charlie's class, at her dance recitals, and on the streets. VERDICT This sweet, universal tale of family and loss will help young children understand the concepts of death and grief in a comforting and loving way.—MaryAnn Karre, Binghamton, NY

Edition details

• Publisher: Orchard Books
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1338680692
• ISBN 13: 9781338680690
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Li Langrand Jocelyn
• Number of pages: 40