- a kind, hard-working girl living in Vermont loves the outdoors–and drawing it
- her sweet relationship with her grandma is heavily tested
- deep thoughts communicated succinctly & appropriately
- language: stupid x2, I hate you (followed quickly by reconciliation)
Type: beginner chapter book
Ages: 6-10
Author: Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
Illustrator: Leslie W. Bowman
After a sad event, Ariel finds herself having new thoughts. She’d never consciously thought her grandma might die one day (spoiler: the grandma doesn’t die in the book), and she is scared of the new situation. Will the two of them ever finish the quilt they started?
Reading this secular tale as a Christian, I only wish I could have reached out to Ariel and given her hope that only the Bible can bring. However, it was still a beautiful story which could bring about a number of impactful conversations with your children. Even without discussing, it’ll be a positively moving book.
In an amazingly small quantity of words, the author establishes a beautiful Vermont scene, realistic relationships, and a feeling of love enveloping it all.
This book just might be what helps your young reader enter the chapter book world! Enjoy. 🙂