Teapots, Buttons, Memi and Me

How do you let life continue to move on when your grandmother dies? How do you honor her memory without remaining stuck in the past? And how do you let others grieve and move on in their own ways?

Teapots, Buttons, Memi and Me tells the story of young Sophia grieving the loss of Memi. Her death is a year old, but Sophia still misses her grandmother—especially this summer, when it’s her turn to be at her grandparents’ beach house. Alone with Poppy, Sophia can’t help but think about what Memi would be doing if she were still with them.

Poppy surprises Sophia with a gift—from her grandmother! Opening the box full of treasures, Sophia smiles as she remembers the moments and stories each of the carefully chosen items represents.

But her bittersweet happiness is short lived. Happening upon her grandfather sitting alone with longtime family friend Tessie, Sophia is confused and angered by their smiles. How can Poppy smile with another woman? What about Memi?

A chapter book that addresses issues of death, grief, and letting go, Teapots, Buttons, Memi and Me maintains positivity and depth of insight, and it encourages young readers to embrace life while teaching them the valuable lessons of love.

Lisa Rose Bauer writes something every day. Whether she's writing lists, letters, journal entries, or stories, the act of writing helps her make sense of the world around her. Add to her gift of writing a never-ending flow of curiosity about life, and it's not surprising that she writes for the main question-askers of the world: children.

Bauer remembers the childhood joy of the school library and the extra delight of book fairs. Her love of good stories, like the Laura Ingalls series, eventually led her to earn an MA in children's literature from Simmons College in Boston.

Bauer lives in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and daughter. Living near the ocean and being able to see the waves, smell the salt air and of course, search for shells and seaglass, has always been a gift.