"Louise thought about Charlie. How
he loved the water. How he loved the
breeze on his face. How he loved to
explore the island."
The sepia-toned artwork in the pages that precede the title page of this sensitive, and significant, new book from Matthew Cordell is unbearably sad. Readers see that a ball-chasing dog is missing; the ball is not. The child packs all things 'dog' in a box, and shares sorrow over the loss with her family.
A gentle watercolor image of a monarch butterfly perched on a rock in a fish-inhabited lake graces the title page. A return to sepia illustrations shows Louise on the deck of the family home which sits next to a lake, an island not far from the shore. A new day begins, without Charlie. Louise takes the boat and heads to the island Charlie loved. The island does not offer the solace Louise is seeking. In the frustration that comes with grief, she bangs a stick on a tree and yells. The sepia-tones turn to soft color as the island comes to life.
"When suddenly, all around, there were butterflies ...
Circling, flying, flitting about.
A chipmunk came to investigate."
Circling, flying, flitting about.
A chipmunk came to investigate."
And deer, there are deer ... and an easing of Louise's heartache. Finally, there is a huge, lumbering, angry bear! Louise roars back. The bear sinks to the ground in sadness. Before leaving, Louise acknowledges the weight of grief the two share. Through the summer and fall, the two spend many days together.
“Some days, only Louise was better. Some days, only Bear was better.”
Eventually, together they are better. The changes on the island bring changes at home. As days shorten with the coming of winter, Louise continues to visit the island. The final visit before hibernation leads to a poignant understanding. Louise rows home alone, with great sadness in her heart; only to find that, when one door closes, another opens.
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