BEST OF THE YEAR
Chicago Public Library - School Library Journal - Five Books
Carnegie Medal Finalist
Once, in a tiny village in India, there was a young boy who loved to
paint. He lived with his grandfather, who taught him to paint with his
fingers, to make paints from marigolds and brushes made from jasmine
flowers. Sometimes, the village children would watch them painting
together, and the boy's grandfather would invite them to join in.
They didn't have much, but they had each other.
After his grandfather dies, the boy notices a little box wrapped in
string with a note that read: "From Dadaji, with love," with his
grandfather's best paintbrush tucked away inside. But he feels he will
never want to paint again.
Will the boy overcome his grief and find joy in painting and his
dadaji's memory again?
A lushly illustrated tale of love, art, and family.
P R A I S E
★"Extraordinary. This book stands out for the depth of its wise
messages, and its gentle, evocative art."
--School Library Journal (starred)
★ "Perfect for an art class, a read-aloud session at a library or
for sharing with a child who has recently lost a loved one."
--Shelf-Awareness (starred)
"This story of familial love and the special bond between grandparents
and grandchildren wraps readers in a tight hug... A gentle, reassuring
reminder that love lives on long after death."
--Kirkus
"A moving tribute to the role of mentors and memory in a young artist's
life, as well as to what "time and attention" can bring about."
--Publishers Weekly
"Explores the pain of losing a grandparent and the quiet joy of coming
to see the legacy the person has left."
--Wall Street Journal
