For the child navigating significant family changes and loss. This poignant story helps process feelings when things feel different after a beloved grandparent is gone.
A parent should reach for this book when a child is struggling to understand that life continues, but differently, after the death of a beloved grandparent. Based on Tomie dePaola's own childhood, the story follows young Tomie through the first year after his Nana Fall-River has died. He observes how holidays, birthdays, and even simple family dinners have changed without her. The book gently explores the persistent, quiet nature of grief and validates a child's feeling that things are not the same. For ages 7 to 10, it's a tender and realistic look at how a family adapts to loss, creates new traditions, and keeps a loved one's memory alive, offering comfort and a path toward a new normal.
The central topic is the death of a grandparent. The approach is direct, secular, and focused on the aftermath of loss rather than the event of death itself, which occurs before the story begins. The resolution is realistic and hopeful. The family's sadness is ever-present, but they demonstrate resilience and find comfort in their love for one another, eventually establishing a new normal.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a 7 to 9-year-old who has experienced the death of a close family member, especially a grandparent. This book is for the child who is observant, perhaps a bit quiet, and struggling to articulate why everything feels 'off' now. It is perfect for a child who is confused by the changes in family traditions and needs reassurance that their feelings are normal.
Parent Prep
No specific preparation is needed; the book is gentle enough to be read cold. Parents should be prepared for the story to prompt their child to share their own feelings and memories. It's a tool for conversation, so reading it together and being available to talk afterward is the most important context. The parent has noticed their child has become withdrawn or sad during family gatherings that used to be joyful. The child might say something like, "It's not as fun without Grandpa here," or may resist new ways of celebrating a holiday. The parent is looking for a way to acknowledge the child's sadness and open a conversation about how families can adapt together.
Age Experience
A younger reader (age 7) will connect with the concrete, tangible examples of absence, like the empty chair or the different foods at Thanksgiving. An older reader (ages 9-10) will grasp the more abstract themes of memory, the evolution of traditions, and the emotional resilience of the family unit. They can better understand the idea that you can be sad and still move forward.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many grief books that have a single, focused narrative arc, this book's episodic structure is its greatest strength. It realistically portrays grief not as a problem to be solved, but as a long-term adjustment that ebbs and flows through everyday life. Its quiet, memoir-like tone feels authentic and provides a comforting, non-melodramatic model for processing loss over time.
Read plot summary
This episodic chapter book follows young Tomie and his family through the first year after the death of his paternal grandmother, Nana Fall-River. Each chapter focuses on a specific event: a birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other everyday moments. Tomie observes the subtle and overt ways her absence is felt, from the empty chair at the table to the family's decision to change long-held traditions. The story chronicles the family's journey of adapting to their loss and finding new ways to function and honor her memory.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Tomie notices Nana Fall-River’s empty chair at the table. What are some small things or places that remind you of someone you miss?
2
The family decides to go to a restaurant for Christmas dinner instead of cooking a big meal like they used to. Why do you think they made that change? Is it okay for traditions to change after someone is gone?
3
Tomie is worried things will never be the same. By the end of the book, are things the same? Are they all bad? What new things does the family do together?
4
Tomie's mom cooks a special meal that Nana used to make as a way to remember her. What are some positive ways your family remembers people who are not with you anymore?
