About This Book
Reach for this book when your family is preparing for the holidays and you want to slow down to discuss the true meaning of traditions and the beauty of growing up. This gentle memoir by beloved author Tomie dePaola captures fifteen personal memories from his childhood through his adult years. It is an invitation to look at how a single holiday can serve as a landmark for a lifetime of change. Through dePaola's signature warmth, the stories touch on the excitement of gifts, the importance of family heritage, and the inevitable shift as children become adults and lose loved ones. It is a perfect choice for parents who want to foster a sense of history and continuity in their children's lives. The book is developmentally appropriate for elementary and early middle schoolers, providing a comforting yet honest look at the cycles of life and the endurance of love.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with the death of family members, specifically his parents and grandparents, as the timeline moves into his adulthood. The approach is direct and realistic but softened by the context of a long, well-lived life. It is rooted in a Catholic cultural tradition, though the themes of family and memory are universal.
