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Gold Gato
, January 01, 2015
(view all comments by Gold Gato)
Sniff...sob. This simple picture book had me at "whales". Gorgeously illustrated by the great Ron Lightburn, here is a story about growing old and the familial ties that bind generations together.
An old man lives alone by the Northwest coast. His biggest joy is watching for the arrival of the Orca Whales on their yearly migration. In between their journey, he farms his land by himself as his children have all grown and long moved away. His love for nature and the sea is seen in each illustration, whether he is collecting driftwood or hiking in the foggy woods. One day, his daughter comes back home to love with him. She has a baby now, and the old man won't be lonely anymore.
I really enjoyed this, as I thought about how we interact with our aging parents as they near their last days. The old man clocks his life's days around the Orcas, which brings this tale to another level. Generations pass away from our sight, but we each keep their memories until, at last, it is our time, too.
Lovely, lovely book. The artwork is marvelous. I would recommend for helping children, and ourselves, cope with the loss of grandparents.
Book Season = Autumn (time for the Orcas to leave)
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