ISBN: 006308998X
Genres: Cultural / Indigenous, Family, Family Life
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
What’s the story? Nothing really. Just spendin’ time. Gray and Bell’s gentle slice-of-life picture book follows a boy and his grandfather as they move through town one day: gathering berries, greeting neighbors, fishing, visiting the market, and sharing memories. Nothing is rushed, no problems to overcome. The point, we see, is the boy and his grandfather spending time together, noticing and enjoying life’s small pleasures. The author’s note at the end of the book, addressed to the author’s own grandfather, clarifies that the setting here is Preston, Nova Scotia, “Canada’s oldest Indigenous black community,” and the site of many happy memories.
Bell’s illustrations underscore the message of the book, with soft pastels offering rounded edges and rich colors to notice and appreciate. And while the gentle tone and repeated reminder that “we’re spending time” encourage readers to slow down, the text isn’t without excitement. “Plop! Fwoosh! Splash!” Onomatopoeia dots steps along the journey and offers fun read-aloud moments for a preschool story time focused on grandparents or daily life/chores.
Reviewed by Carolyn Gallmeyer, Lithgow Public Library, Augusta