Ron Lightburn

This is a lyrical, bittersweet book about dealing with the death of a grandparent. The paintings were gorgeous, the words wove and swept, and were sweet and deep. I enjoyed this work, even though it brought back the hurt of the loss of my own grandmother.

A girl goes from isolation to an open heart with her playful Gran, whose death she must also meet and learn from.

I have no criticism of this lovely book (paintings are marvellous, too), but I was sorry to predict the gran's death as soon as she entered the stage. Are old people only for dying? Asking for a friend.

Lightburn’s beautiful artwork conveys the simple yet honest themes of loneliness and contentment, love and loss, which McFarlane uses to tell this calm and moving story of a lonely old man with little to look forward to except the yearly summer appearance of orca whales. That is until his daughter and granddaughter enter his life. The old man shares not only his routines in the garden and the forest with his granddaughter, but most importantly his love for the orca whales. When the old man show more passes away, the granddaughter and her mother take comfort in anticipating the summer appearance of the orca whales with who they believe the old man’s spirit rests. As a story that address the death of a loved one McFarlane and Lightburn’s tale is warm and moving, but the realism of loss is obscured by the emphasis placed on the orca whales as symbol for the old man’s rebirth. Waiting for the Whales can be enjoyed by children age four to seven. show less

This children's book highlights a concern that touches on most families with young children. The illustrations are excellent in this story about garbage becoming a monster that keeps on getting bigger. The author starts with the mess under one boy's bed that takes on a life of it's own. The garbage monster travels and absorbs more garbage until it explodes. There is a moral for children- clean up your mess. I think that for younger children the story will be scary but it should appeal to the show more 7 to 10 year old set. The idea of starting a conversation about garbage and mess for a young generation is a good one. ( I think of my grand nieces who should appreciate this story and learn from it eventually) Besides being well illustrated, the story is told in simple poetry that makes the message very clear. The subject is a good choice for a children's book when a child is ready to take responsibility for their surroundings. show less