4 pages from inside this book
The Sour Cherry Tree
- Subject
- Social Themes - Death, Grief, Bereavement
- Age
- 3-5 years
- Format
- Hardcover
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Owlkids
- Size
- 21.1 cm × 28.4 cm
- ISBN
- 9781771474146
A heartwarming look at love, loss, and memorable objects through the eyes of a child by critically-acclaimed creators Naseem Hrab and Nahid Kazemi
"Deeply evocative ... A beautifully poignant celebration of memories of a loved one that live on in those that remain." — Kirkus Reviews – STARRED REVIEW
After her grandfather’s death, a young girl wanders through his house. As she tours each room, the objects she discovers stir memories of her grandfather—her baba bozorg. His closet full of clothes reminds her of the mints he kept in his pockets. His favorite teacup conjures thoughts of the fig cookies he would offer her. The curtains in the living room bring up memories of hide-and-seek games and the special relationship that she and her baba bozorg shared, even though they spoke different languages.
The Sour Cherry Tree is an authentic look at death and loss centred on the experiences of a child, both strikingly whimsical and matter-of-fact. Drawing on the Iranian-Canadian author’s childhood memories, this tender meditation on grief, love, and memory is at once culturally specific and universally relatable.
About the creators
Naseem HrabAuthor
NASEEM HRAB is a writer and storyteller, and the author of the Ira Crumb series and Weekend Dad. Her comedy writing has appeared on McSweeney’s Internet Tendency and The Rumpus. Naseem worked as a librarian for a time and now works in children’s publishing. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Nahid KazemiIllustrator
NAHID KAZEMI is an illustrator and multidisciplinary artist who has published more than 65 children’s books. She won the 2022 Governor General’s Literary Awards in Canada and has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. She was IBBY Canada’s Joanne Fitzgerald Illustrator in Residence for 2018 and TD Summer Reading Club illustrator for 2022. She lives in Montréal, Quebec.
Data provided by BiblioShare.
What reviewers said
"The story takes a gentle look at loss and allows the narrator to speak freely about all she loved about her many visits with her grandfather."
"This book gives voice to the hidden aspects of grief, the small token, the remembered word or gesture that defines memories. It’s an essential guide to mourning, in its earliest stages, for the young."
"A portrait of a beloved grandfather who kept mints in his pockets, liked fig cookies, and 'spoke Farsi loudly but English quietly.'"
"Kazemi’s illustrations have a soft, filmy quality that suits a story about memories ... The first-person narration, filled with childlike details and tender emotions, reinforces the equally childlike perspective of the delicate art."
"Deeply evocative ... A beautifully poignant celebration of memories of a loved one that live on in those that remain."
"A universally relatable story that articulates a difficult concept for younger audiences, with a heartfelt message about loss and the memories of loved ones."
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