The Memory Box: A Book About Grief

A girl with long blonde hair candidly reflects on the death of an unspecified loved one. Worried that she might forget the person, she puts together a “memory box” filled with tokens to remind her of “everywhere we’ve been, everywhere you’ve been, everywhere we wanted to go.” Baker’s mixed-media collages integrate bits of fabric and softly textured papers, creating a homey atmosphere that dovetails nicely with the girl’s homemade box. Rowland gently suggests that grief doesn’t always move in a straight line (“Some days are good.... Other days, I wonder if I’ll ever stop feeling sad”) and emphasizes that one can cherish memories while simultaneously moving forward. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)