Other Words for Nonno
- Publisher
- Kids Can Press
- Initial publish date
- Sep 2023
- Category
- NON-CLASSIFIABLE, Emotions & Feelings, Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781525305757
- Publish Date
- Sep 2023
- List Price
- $23.99
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 4 to 7
- Grade: p to 2
- Reading age: 4 to 7
Description
A girl and her grandfather bond over a shared love of words in this heartwarming story about changing relationships.
On their weekly walks, Jill and her Nonno love to play with words. “Hummingbird,” says Jill. “Sugar-drinker,” says Nonno. “Seaplane,” says Jill. “I do see a plane!” replies Nonno. But one day, Jill notices Nonno is acting differently. He isn't interested in their usual game and simply repeats what Jill says. When Jill asks her mother what's wrong, her mother says Nonno isn't running out of words, he just can't always find the words he's looking for. Is there anything Jill can do to help?
Award-winning journalist Dave Cameron movingly captures the special bond between a grandchild and grandparent in this lovely picture book story. Other Words for Nonno is about making time for those we love and finding our own way of helping them, even when it seems like there's nothing we can do. The book ends positively, with a message of hope. The clever word game Jill and Nonno play will inspire readers to try it themselves or to invent their own word games. Yong Ling Kang's illustrations use mostly pastel-toned watercolors to convey the characters' emotions. An excellent choice for children with relatives experiencing memory loss, this book contains strong curriculum ties to social-emotional learning. Jill models the character education values of empathy and initiative when she creates a unique way to help Nonno find his words.
About the authors
Dave Cameron is often able to sleep soundly on interstate buses and in airport departure lounges. This wasn’t always the case. At the age of 18, he sat up for 70 hours on the train from Toronto to Vancouver. He arrived smelly and exhausted, but also having discovered that movement alone is a fix – even if temporary – for restlessness.Dave grew up in Maple, Ontario, and studied magazine journalism at Ryerson University. A freelance writer, his work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Ottawa Citizen, and Cottage Life magazine, among other publications. He also worked for a time as a weekly newspaper reporter in Kincardine, Ontario. But the stories he likes best are those found by accident. (Or those that are somehow accidental: he can, for example, tell a Techni-colourful tale about the time he got food poisoning in Nepal.)Dave has lived in Vancouver, Toronto, and Halifax, and has travelled in Europe, Asia, and Australia.
YONG LING KANG is an illustrator who grew up in Singapore and is now based in Toronto, Ontario. She is fascinated by storytelling, and has honed her craft through picture books, Manga, cartoons, and formal schooling in an animation program. She has illustrated several picture books, including The Midnight Club, This House Is Home, and William's Getaway.
Awards
- Short-listed, The Hamilton Literary Awards, The Hamilton Arts Council
Editorial Reviews
... should strike a chord with young readers just beginning to read and write themselves. Highly Recommended
CM Magazine
... encourages readers to have empathy and take time to find ways to support others even if it may seem like nothing can be done.
Children's Literature
... Cameron portrays [the main character] using initiative and creativity to help her grandparent find language for his surroundings --- a move he uses to track their connection.
Publishers Weekly
