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Thursday, June 30, 2022

See You Someday Soon, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Suzy Lee. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2022. $26.99 ages 3 and up

 


"But I can't. 
           There's school. 
                 Soccer. 
                   
Mom and Dad's jobs. 

Plus, rockets and jet packs and catapults
cost money. 
Even if you build them yourself.

This is a book that will always speak to my heart. As you will know, if you regularly read this blog, I have two granddaughters. They live half a country away from where I live. That will not change. With regular FaceTime calls, we are able to keep up on what's happening there and here. It has to be enough; I can tell you that I happily anticipate any real visits we are able to plan. The next one happens in TWO days! 

Reading this story of love between a grandmother and her grandchild hits all the high spots. Told in the child's first-person voice, the longing to see each other is fully shown. They share telephone calls, video chats and even letters. The child's imagination is given full rein when dreaming up other ways that they might see each other 'soon'. Would a rocket work? Or a jet pack? Or even a catapult? It's fun to think about what might work. Yes, it would certainly be a surprise to open the front door and find that it had.  

"Did you know you can see me on your computer? 
Yes, really. 

If you push the right button and I look at the right 
spot. That spot. Over there. 
Isn't that better? 

Now you can show me your new glasses
And I can show you how much 
I've grown. 

I know you'll be surprised."

Constant creative suggestions are made for the two to spend time together again. They will delight and engage readers as they come to life on the page. Repeating the 'see you someday soon' theme keeps the two always hoping together that their wishes will come true. It is a reminder of what happened with families as they journeyed through the COVID lockdowns, and also for loved ones who live across long distances. 

Suzy Lee's art is described as being 'created with pencil, crayon and watercolor and then digitally manipulated. The die-cuts were used to show how the characters could be physically closer together through the pages.' It is a beauty, full of love and humor. The ending is perfection.                                                                                      


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