By Glenn Ringtved and Charlotte Pardi
Aware their grandmother is gravely ill, four siblings make a pact to keep death from taking her away. They naively attempt to outwit Death. But, Death does arrive all the same, as it must. He comes gently, naturally. And he comes with enough time to share a story with the children that helps them to realize the value of loss to life and the importance of being able to say goodbye. Using a parable featuring the marriage of Joy and Delight to Grief and Sorrow, Death comforts the children during this difficult time. Gentle storytelling reassures young readers about the honest truth of life and death.
Glenn Ringtved is a best-selling and award-winning Danish children’s author, whose books have been widely translated.
Charlotte Pardi is a well-beloved Danish illustrator, who has created numerous books since her first picture book in 2000.
Praise:
“Ringtved’s text respects readers by offering a comforting, but direct confrontation with death in a story that is both somber and joyful,” said Batchelder Award Committee Chair Jamie Campbell Naidoo.