You'll Find Me

September 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 2-At a time when many kids are facing the loss of a loved one due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this title offers a reassuring take on the topic. In poetic text, an unnamed narrator describes different ways that people we love remain with us after they die. "I will not always be greeting the morning with you. But you'll find me in the soft sounds of slippered feet." The concepts in this title are a little abstract, and will likely need to be unpacked for listeners with a discussion during reading or afterward. Reflecting the gentle tone of the book, the illustrations are soft and warm and are primarily in pastel colors. These show kids with a range skin tones engaging in various activities-playing the piano, picking flowers, reading, sitting at a beach, sledding. In most of the pictures, the kids are smiling as they appear to be remembering their lost loved one, creating a hopeful vibe. VERDICT Although this title doesn't break any new ground, it is appropriate to give to kids dealing with grief and loss. Recommended for larger collections.-Melanie Kletter, School Library Journal

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2020
Death is a particularly difficult topic to discuss with children, but this book helps to broach the subject gently and with respect for young people's sensibilities. The book opens with the statement "My dear one. Life, like spring, is far too short" accompanied by a picture of a flower with some petals falling off and blowing in the wind. This double-page spread is followed by a series of patterned statements that describe what life will be like for readers when the person they love is no longer alive, both describing reality and offering comfort. "I will not always be..." is coupled with, "But you'll find me..." in places and moments such as "the flicker of candlelight, the pause between Please and Thank you." The repeated phrase "I will not always be..." and the ellipsis take on a double meaning, a gentle reminder that one day this person the child loves "will not always be." The book does not mention an afterlife or make ecclesiastical references; however, birds, butterflies, and candle flames in the illustrations are known to symbolize those who have died in some cultures. As there is no significance given to their presence in the text, this book is beneficial for both children of varying faiths and those who come from homes without a faith tradition. The illustrations are done in a palette of bright but calming pastels, and the children in the illustrations have skin ranging from white to light brown and varying hair types and colors. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-16-inch double-page spreads viewed at 75% of actual size.) An excellent choice for children who are dealing with the loss of a loved one or just learning about death. (Picture book. 4-8)

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