I miss you most

PreS-Gr 3--A young Asian girl recounts the moments when she misses her beloved grandfather. She misses him at the dinner table and when playing board games that they used to share. Her mother reminds her that even when someone passes on, they're always with us in the things we do. The little girl feels her grandfather's presence when she looks at old photos and remembers all the adventures they used to have. Even though she misses her grandfather, she can carry on his memory by showing kindness and continuing the activities they once enjoyed together. With lovingly created illustrations that move between the sepia tones of memory and full color of the child's current life, this book conveys a beautiful depiction of grief. It reminds readers who may be going through similar situations that it's okay to be sad and miss that person. This picture book will be an important tool to facilitate conversations surrounding death and loss. VERDICT A meaningful take on grief and loss that will fill a hole in many collections.--Myiesha Speight

A child learns to cope with loss. In rhyming text, a young narrator yearns for a recently departed grandparent, whose absence is felt in small, day-to-day moments: "I miss you most at dinner / when seafood stew is served. // I miss you in the ocean waves / that crash and splash and swerve." Dark, muted colors and empty spaces emphasize the child's grief and loneliness on each two-page spread. In time, with support from the rest of the family, the protagonist focuses on ways to remember the grandparent: "I see you in the mirror / through the sparkle of my smile." "You're with me in the twists and turns / of stories that I write." "But most of all I feel you / in each kindness I return." Gradually, the child finds comfort in cherished memories; clearly, this beloved grandparent has helped shape the young narrator's life--and continues to do so. Cheng and Yan make an impressive team. Cheng's lyrical text creates sensory snapshots that add richness and depth to this intergenerational bond, bolstered by Yan's beautiful, softly textured digital illustrations, which make effective use of color to capture the protagonist's feelings. Together, their storytelling packs a powerful emotional punch. The family at the center of this story is cued as Chinese. Warm and heartfelt. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.