A little girl's story about the death of a grandparent. Not weighted down with grief or mourning this is a young girl walking through her grandfather's home after his death fondly reminiscing about those special quiet moments between them. Although the grandfather is from the Middle East (spoke Farsi) the connection between the generations is universal.

This is a beautifully illustrated book that follows a little girl after the loss of her grandfather. I cannot express how beautiful the illustrations are. Feelings of loss and grief are explored as the girl walks through her grandfather's house after he has passed. We get to see her experience her memories of her grandfather. Her grandfather spoke Farsi while she couldn't, but they were able to build a strong bond and love for each other. This was a very touching and emotional book about grief and how somebody may experience these feelings. This book would be great for children who have or are experiencing the loss of a loved one.

I would like to thank Owlkids for providing me with an ARC.

This heartwarming book gives voice to families who find ways to communicate and express love without sharing a common language. A little girl takes the reader along as she plays alongside her grandfather and recreates her mother's former childhood games. Although the grandfather speaks Farsi and the granddaughter does not, they find ways to connect that are endearing, meaningful, and special.

The soft colors used by the illustrator are like whisps across each page. I love the illustrator's medium and style and found it refreshing after reading so many bright and bold books in the genre.

As always, I’m grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. The words and opinions are all my own.

#love #families #immigrants #bibliotherapy #therapistswhoread

“The Sour Cherry Tree”, written by Naseem Hrab and beautifully illustrated by Nahid Kazemi, is a heartbreaking tale about loss and grief. After the death of her grandfather, a little girl visits his now empty home with her mother. There, she remembers the times spent when her grandfather was alive, and realizes how empty everything feels now that he is gone.

The illustrations are subtle, and complement the tone of the story very well. The words are simple and not many, and articulate the feeling of loss very well. Reading the story made me feel very emotional, and took me back to the loss of my own grandparents when I was a child. I feel this book could be very helpful for children who experience loss, to help them express their feelings and process their grief. Thank you very much to NetGalley and OwlKids Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

A picture book about grief that doesn't cover the reader in heaviness but celebrates life while holding space for what is now missing. The illustrations are breathtaking. Drawn in pencil and carefully chosen color. A girl misses her grandfather after his death and she visits his house for the first time with her mother since his passing.

Although the house is the same, she knows there is a large space where her Baba was and the balance between the sweetness of the relationship and the grief the girls experiences is sensitively written. This book is a good addition to parenting collections and general picture book collections. Too often hard topics in life are ignored until an event happens that brings it to the forefront. Stories like Hrab's bring a sensitive topic like grief into a story that is digestible for children of all ages, even when they haven't experienced the death of a loved one.

A social emotional story, diverse and universal in its topic.

The Sour Cherry Tree is a sweet multicultural story about grief from a child’s perspective after losing her grandfather. The author recalls the memories and allows the grief to come. The illustrations are beautifully done.

As an educator, I would recommend this book for families that have recently suffered a loss. It may help children understand that grief is normal and must be processed at an individual pace. Cherish the memories!

Thank you to NetGalley and OwlKids Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lyrical and heart-warming, beautiful soft illustrations, no forced moral, a perfect book to deal with loss/grief.

A very adorable and interesting tale about a granddaughter learning some hard facts about life. Definitely great for kindergarten aged students.