I'll Say Goodbye

March 1, 2022
Preschool-Grade 1 A young child enjoys spending time at the beach with Uncle Mike. On the days when Mike feels well enough, they spend time searching for hermit crabs, flying kites, and avoiding jellyfish. On other days, his cancer keeps him in bed or at the hospital; then the child brings him shells so that he can hear the ocean. After Mike's death, the child is sad that she didn't get to say goodbye but finds comfort in wearing his old baseball cap and returning their pet hermit crab to the ocean. Zollman's simple, direct text reflects a child's point of view and limited understanding of illness and death. No scientific explanations are given, but Zollman describes postfuneral rituals (visiting and telling stories about the deceased) and notes sadness in everyone. Ives' tastefully subdued artwork highlights multiple shades of blue: lighter hues for the ocean on good days and darker shades for when Mike's illness progresses and storms ensue. The emphasis on natural landscapes is both appealing and soothing, providing solace for the child and readers alike.

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July 1, 2022
"It's not fair. I never got to say goodbye." This first-person account of bereavement is narrated by a child helping to care for a beloved uncle who is undergoing cancer treatment. When Uncle Mike is feeling up to it, the two spend time by the shore. One day the child finds a hermit crab and adopts it as a pet. Then the time comes when Uncle Mike must stay in the hospital; the child cannot visit his new "germ-free room" due to age restrictions, and, sadly, misses the chance to say a final farewell. Frustrated by platitudes (e.g., that Uncle Mike is in "a better place": "What place could be better than Uncle Mike's house on the beach?"), the child takes comfort from the seaside and its treasure trove of memories. With the help of the hermit crab, Uncle Mike's yellow baseball cap, and Mom's hug, the child is finally able to say a unique and heartfelt goodbye. Zollman's text is honest, compassionate, and non-saccharine, with apt metaphors ("The ocean with its whitecaps looks upset, too"). Ives's beautiful, subdued mixed-media illustrations gently underscore the story's theme. With its honest presentation of death and loss, this book will serve as a good resource for adults hoping to start a conversation, in terms that children can understand. Weileen Wang

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2022
"It's not fair. I never got to say goodbye." This first-person account of bereavement is narrated by a child helping to care for a beloved uncle who is undergoing cancer treatment. When Uncle Mike is feeling up to it, the two spend time by the shore. One day the child finds a hermit crab and adopts it as a pet. Then the time comes when Uncle Mike must stay in the hospital; the child cannot visit his new "germ-free room"due to age restrictions, and, sadly, misses the chance to say a final farewell. Frustrated by platitudes (e.g., that Uncle Mike is in "a better place": "What place could be better than Uncle Mike's house on the beach?"), the child takes comfort from the seaside and its treasure trove of memories. With the help of the hermit crab, Uncle Mike's yellow baseball cap, and Mom's hug, the child is finally able to say a unique and heartfelt goodbye. Zollman's text is honest, compassionate, and non-saccharine, with apt metaphors ("The ocean with its white-caps looks upset, too"). Ives's beautiful, subdued mixed-media illustrations gently underscore the story's theme. With its honest presentation of death and loss, this book will serve as a good resource for adults hoping to start a conversation, in terms that children can understand.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)