In this gentle meditation on the cycle of life, author and illustrator Paloma Valdivia gives us an opportunity to reflect on those who have gone, those who will come, and those of us who are here in this world — for the time being.
The neighbor’s cat, a favorite aunt or the fish in yesterday’s soup have gone — and we may well miss them. At the same time, we celebrate the arrival of a new baby or a litter of playful kittens. It’s a mystery where we come from and where we are going, so why not enjoy ourselves while we can?
Paloma Valdivia’s charming illustrations bring a light touch to this candid contemplation of life and death.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
In this gentle meditation on the cycle of life, author and illustrator Paloma Valdivia gives us an opportunity to reflect on those who have gone, those who will come, and those of us who are here in this world — for the time being.
The neighbor’s cat, a favorite aunt or the fish in yesterday’s soup have gone — and we may well miss them. At the same time, we celebrate the arrival of a new baby or a litter of playful kittens. It’s a mystery where we come from and where we are going, so why not enjoy ourselves while we can?
Paloma Valdivia’s charming illustrations bring a light touch to this candid contemplation of life and death.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Aug 1, 2017 |
| Specifications | 36 pages | 7.5 in x 9 in |
| Keywords | birth; death and bereavement; circle of life; life cycles; new baby; mental health; acceptance; adaptability; poetic language; connecting; inferring; determining importance; Common Core aligned; CC Literature Key Ideas and Details; grade 1; Kirkus Best Picture Book; picture book; |
| Written By |
PALOMA VALDIVIA was born in Chile where she studied design, followed by post-graduate studies in illustration in Barcelona. She has collaborated with several media companies, museums and publishing houses, and she has published many illustrated children’s books. She won a prestigious Plaque award at the Biennial of Illustrations, Bratislava, and the Spanish edition of this book won Santiago’s municipal award, Mexico’s CANIEM award and an honorable mention for the Bologna Ragazzi Award. Paloma lives in Chile. |
| Illustrated by |
PALOMA VALDIVIA was born in Chile where she studied design, followed by post-graduate studies in illustration in Barcelona. She has collaborated with several media companies, museums and publishing houses, and she has published many illustrated children’s books. She won a prestigious Plaque award at the Biennial of Illustrations, Bratislava, and the Spanish edition of this book won Santiago’s municipal award, Mexico’s CANIEM award and an honorable mention for the Bologna Ragazzi Award. Paloma lives in Chile. |
| Written By |
|
PALOMA VALDIVIA was born in Chile where she studied design, followed by post-graduate studies in illustration in Barcelona. She has collaborated with several media companies, museums and publishing houses, and she has published many illustrated children’s books. She won a prestigious Plaque award at the Biennial of Illustrations, Bratislava, and the Spanish edition of this book won Santiago’s municipal award, Mexico’s CANIEM award and an honorable mention for the Bologna Ragazzi Award. Paloma lives in Chile. |
| Illustrated by |
|
PALOMA VALDIVIA was born in Chile where she studied design, followed by post-graduate studies in illustration in Barcelona. She has collaborated with several media companies, museums and publishing houses, and she has published many illustrated children’s books. She won a prestigious Plaque award at the Biennial of Illustrations, Bratislava, and the Spanish edition of this book won Santiago’s municipal award, Mexico’s CANIEM award and an honorable mention for the Bologna Ragazzi Award. Paloma lives in Chile. |
| Audience | ages 4 to 7 / grades K to 2 |
| Reading Levels |
Lexile AD570L
Guided Reading N Fountas & Pinnel Text Level N |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7 |
Commended, Kirkus Best Picture Books, 2017
“A tribute to those who pass, a celebration of time here, and a multilayered rumination on the cycle of life.” —Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW
“The illustrations are wonderfully bright and joyous. This is a delightful, provocative book to share and discuss with a child. It will inspire many questions from children which in my opinion, is the whole point of the book.” —CBC Books
“This Chilean author/illustrator’s meditation on the cycle of life makes perfect reading for the end of summer/back to school season, with its potent mixture of melancholy and excitement.(...)Valdivia’s rich colours, her Paul Klee-like, geometric figures and intricate patterns, all deepen a sense of the mystery and rightness in the fleeting quality of time and life itself.” —Toronto Star
“Valdivia offers a bold and surprisingly lighthearted view of existence.” —Publishers Weekly
“This charmingly illustrated picture book tackles the very difficult topic of life and death and the mysteries that are so often associated with them. … A lovely addition to larger library collections.” —School Library Journal
“It’s a mystery where we come from and where we are going, so why not enjoy ourselves while we can? Paloma Valdivia’s charming illustrations bring a light touch to this candid contemplation of life and death.” —49th Shelf