Summary
Paj Ntaub watches the seasons change with her neighbors Bob and Ruth as her parents bring home her twin brothers from the hospital and they grow up. After Ruth passes away, she continues to find beauty in her everyday life like the worms, plants, and snow. She draws a “map” on Bob’s driveway of his world in case he needs it.
Theme(s):
Seasons, Family, Loss, Community
Personal Response
I thought this book was beautifully written and peaceful to read. It would be a great way to talk about change and loss with small children. I also like that it didn’t follow a typical story structure with a clear problem and solution but instead just follows the main character and her perspective.
Teaching Ideas
I think this book could be a great mentor text for using descriptive language in writing and detail in illustrations. It could be used at the beginning of the year to prompt kids to make a “map” of their own world based on the things they notice around them. It could also be used to talk about the differences between Paj Ntaub’s family and Ruth and Bob’s family to encourage acceptance. Last, students could investigate more about seasons and how things change that she notices.
Recommended Reading Level
Birth-PreK, Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03
