Life Without Nico - Hardcover

Maturana, Andrea

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1771386118 ISBN 13: 9781771386111

Publisher: Kids Can Press, 2016

Synopsis

Maia and Nico are best friends. They never get tired of playing together. Unexpectedly, though, Nico and his family have to move far away for a while. Maia is devastated. ?Now time passes slowly, and the emptiness is with Maia everywhere she goes.? She makes her way through the dark days, bored and alone. But, slowly, things begin to change, and ?... Maia meets an unexpected companion ... She makes a new friend ... She even discovers a new passion.? Her life has become so happy and full, in fact, that she worries there will no longer be enough room for Nico. Of course, when he returns, she discovers there is. As Maia learns, ?There is always space in your heart for friendship.?

This poetic, touching picture book written by Andrea Maturana is sure to move readers of any age. It sensitively explores a child's capacity for friendship and the range of feelings experienced while trying to cope with loss. Losing a friend is a common childhood experience, and this book would offer a perfect opportunity for a classroom discussion on this or any kind of loss. It speaks to the resilience of children as well, and the experience of growing up and discovering that welcoming new things and people into your life doesn't mean losing the old. The sweet artwork by Francisco Javier Olea uses warm, muted colors that reinforce the reassuring tone of the story, as well as magical imagery that enhances its emotional depth.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

K-Gr 2—When best friends are separated, it may be difficult for them to express their feelings. When Maia learns that her closest friend Nico will be moving with his family to the other side of the world while his father pursues further education, she is heartbroken. Without her friend, Maia feels that there is a hole in her life. She feels gloomy until she finds a kitten, and the dark hole gets a little smaller. Then Maia meets a new friend and eventually embraces a new passion (the piano). She happily talks with Nico on the phone and thinks about his return. Her feelings are mixed: she looks forward to seeing him but worries that her life has become so full that she will not have time to spend with him. This is a sweet story about experiencing separation and loss, with illustrations and words that can assist children in expressing their feelings. The author provides an excellent representation of abstract feelings in a concrete way that children can grasp: a dark hole that needs to be filled. The flat, graphic-style illustrations on glossy pages are simple, vivid, and quite lovely. VERDICT This thoughtful and well-done exploration of loss and recovery is an important addition to library collections.—Mary Hazelton, formerly at Warren & Waldoboro Elementary Schools, ME

Review:

... Maturana's minimal, lyrical text, set in a wistful, handwritten-style font, embellishes the artwork and beautifully modulates the mood from melancholy to lighthearted.―Publishers Weekly

This thoughtful and well-done exploration of loss and recovery is an important addition to library collections.―School Library Journal

Reassuring without being patronizing, this helps explain a challenging life event with insight and a light touch ...―Booklist

Empathy brims on the pages of this artful and articulate book about overwhelming feeling.―Kirkus Reviews - Starred Review

... highly recommended for both librarians and teachers as an excellent conversation starter when discussing loss with children.―Resource Links

... a deceptively simple story which explores complex themes of friendship, loss, loneliness, grief, depression and love.―CM Magazine

... [an] astute, sensitive tale of friendship and separation ...―The New York Times

About this edition

• Publisher: Kids Can Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1771386118
• ISBN 13: 9781771386111
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 36
• Illustrator: Olea Francisco Javier