• Age: 0 to 7
• Grade: p to 2

Beautifully written and illustrated, a story about how tradition can help us hold those we’ve lost in our hearts, even when life is forever changed.

Every Thursday night, a girl and her papa go to their secret fishing spot in the middle of the city. Now it’s just the two of them—there used to be three. The girl’s mother had found this place, and they’d all fished there when the girl was small as peas. Even though it’s different now, it’s still tradition. The girl and her papa don’t talk much; instead, they listen to the waves lapping against the shore as they fish. Sometimes they talk about Mama and the big walleye that always got away. As they head home, the city sparkling in the moonlight, the girl is content, ready for a night of dreaming about Mama and the fish.

Lindsay Ward is the creator of the Dexter T. Rexter series as well as Jessie: Queen of the Road, Rosie: Stronger than Steel, Between the Lines, Pink Is Not a Color, This Book Is Gray, Brobarians, Rosco vs. the Baby, and The Importance of Being 3. Our Spot was inspired by her family’s stories about a special fishing hole in the heart of Cleveland. Lindsay lives with her family in Peninsula, Ohio. Learn more about her online at www.lindsaymward.com.

Lindsay Ward's profile page

GABRIELLE GRIMARD a illustré plus de 30 albums, dontLes mots volés, Quand j’avais huit ans, Fatima et les voleurs de clémentines, Aujourd'hui peut-être... et les livres de la série Petit Gnouf. Elle est aussi l'auteure-illustratrice de l'album Lila et la corneille. Gabrielle habite aux environs de Montréal.

From the time she was little GABRIELLE GRIMARD loved art, dismaying her elementary school teachers by constantly drawing in class. Later Gabrielle studied art in high school and university. After her son was born, she began illustrating children’s books and has now created more than 25, including When I Was Eight (Quand j'avais huit ans), Stolen Words (Les mots volés) and Not My Girl (Où est ma fille?). Lila and the Crow (Lila et la corneille) is the first book she both wrote and illustrated. She uses watercolours, gouache and oil to create images of amazing warmth and depth. Gabrielle lives near Montreal, QC. Visit her at https://www.gabriellegrimard.com.

Gabrielle Grimard's profile page

“Both heart-filling and heartbreaking, this book is a reminder that tradition and love keep memory alive…A warm and tender tribute to the traditions that help us hold our loved ones close.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[A] sensitively paced, gorgeously illustrated book…The illustrations, done in gouache, watercolors, watercolor and oil paint, pencils, and crayons, are central to the story…A lyrical take on the importance of memory and ritual in grieving.” —Booklist (starred review)

“The brilliant illustrations of Gabrielle Grimard beautifully support the gentle and charming picture book story Our Spot by author Lindsay Ward. The result is a truly memorable reading experience for children ages 3-7 about love, loss, tradition, and remembrance.”—Midwest Book Review