"GRANDPA IS HERE. We've brought him home,
and his suitcase smells like spice.
There are herbs and limes, Nana's fig jam,
and sparkly saffron to make yellow rice.
Now I sit on Grandpa's knee ... "
Waiting at the airport for Grandpa's arrival is filled with concern and anticipation. When the doors open and the people spill out, Mama runs quickly toward her father. The child narrator is wary, waiting to feel her grandfather's arms encompass her. Excitement sets in for the drive home.
There is so much that she would like to show him. As they settle in for his visit, the little one finds comfort in what he has hidden in his hands. The fact that the two speak two languages to describe what she finds there is irrelevant. They are so happy to be together again.
A nap is needed before a walk of discovery along nearby roads. Through a tree tunnel, alongside a horse paddock, up and over a hill the two walk; the child always pointing out things of importance. There is much to discover in the natural surroundings. It is fall; Grandpa will stay for the winter, but the child wants him to see spring's arrival.
"Grandpa is like snow - I never want him to go,
never want his magic to leave.
But he whispers in Farsi, and I start to smile
when he wipes my tears with his sleeve."
It's time to return home - through blowing winds and waning sunlight. A family dinner awaits, with much excitement for Grandpa's presence. Too soon it is time for bed. As the child tiptoes in to see his peaceful, sleeping face and to hold his hand, her wish is that winter will take a longer time than usual to pass.
Warm and detailed mixed-media illustrations fill spreads with love, and a gracious look at Iranian culture. So appealing!
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