“It seems several of our neighbors had seen Timmerman walking around late at night, carrying a spade and an old burlap sack. It didn't take long for the kids at school to fire up their imaginations, and before I knew it, there were rumors flying. Some said Timmerman was a notorious bank robber who had come to town to bury his loot. Others said he'd just gotten out of prison and had come back to dig up the money he had buried years earlier. And when Mrs. Anderson's tabby went missing, they said it wasn't money Timmerman had in his sack at all, but dead cats."
When a boarder comes to take the room that was her grandfather's, she is not happy with her mother. She is missing him and doesn't want anyone to take his place. With time and a chance, Timmerman wins her over. He is quiet and kind and even the dog likes him. He does do some mysterious things and the little girl remains somewhat skeptical; but she likes him well enough to defend his honor and earn herself a black eye. It is worth it! It is her grandfather who convinces her that she should trust herself to know what is true and right. When she takes his advice that trust is rewarded. Everyone is duly surprised by the parting gift that Timmerman leaves the neighbors.
This is a winning, gentle story with an air of mystery. That mysteriousness is evident in the shadowy illustrations created in gouache and colored pencils by Nicolas Debon. You will recognize his art if you know his other work, including Thing-Thing (Tundra, 2008), The Strongest Man in the World (Groundwood, 2007) and Four Pictures by Emily Carr (Groundwood, 2006). Together they have created a story of friendship and mystery from an earlier time. We are all better for sharing such stories with our children and students. They allow a chance to talk about many important issues in life.
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