"They looked high and low.
They looked under Kitty.
They looked under Lucy
and everywhere else.
Then Mom stopped and she thought.
Yes, she did some hard thinking ...
"I think I've got it!" said Mom.
"Where is it?" they said.
"Went out in the trash?' she whispered."
I love Bob Graham's books. YES, I do! They are always such a delight to read, to share, and to discuss every time, no matter how many times they are read.
Many people turned to jigsaw puzzles to pass the time when housebound because of COVID restrictions. For some, the appeal has ended; for others, it renewed a long-lost interest in an old hobby. The action for this new family book begins with the arrival of a brand-new jigsaw puzzle addressed to the Kelly family, and with no return address. Who might have sent it? Where did it come from? No one knows.
They are all keen to get right to it. So, they do. The puzzle pieces are dumped out on the table. Unbeknownst to family members (yet seen by readers) is the one piece that falls from the table on to their dog's back. It is carried from there into another room, where it is scratched off, left behind, and soon vacuumed up. The full vacuum bag is dumped in the bin, and soon carried away.
It takes ages to complete the puzzle; the entire family helps with piecing it together. Even Lucy, their dog helps. After working through the winter, then spring and summer, Dad is the only one left to get it done. In late autumn, the African Jigsaw is finally completed.
As luck would have it:
ONE PIECE IS MISSING!
The search is on. No luck! Mom puts on her thinking cap and comes up with the idea that it may have gone out in the trash. To the recycling center they go! They know exactly what they are looking for - Hippo's swim shorts. The pile of trash is monumental, but they are not deterred.
"There were letters of love from faraway places, letters of sorrow, notes of forgiveness, bus tickets, train tickets, cards saying "thank you." and newspapers old and forgotten in time.
Their story doesn't end there. Watching them walk away from the final bits of trash left, readers will enjoy a huge surprise. Once home, an important discovery is made. Still not knowing where their source of entertainment for a full year came from, Katie and Kitty write a note of thanks and mail it.
To: Our jigsaw Sender
Nowear
Sumwear
Wonderful and enchanting, as always!
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