Over the Shop

This is part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For an explanation see my review for [b:101 Amazing Facts about Australia|21332402|101 Amazing Facts about Australia (Countries of the World)|Jack Goldstein|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394253825l/21332402._SY75_.jpg|25417728] You can see all the books on their own shelf.

The cover grabbed me. One of the worst things about cities and towns built to suit cars rather than people is the shopping center or mall. I like a street with a shop on it and with offices and housing upstairs. The reason people feel safe in older downtowns is the presence of people all the time, which I am delighted to see is coming back as a thing.

Any way, this is a lovely show more wordless book in which the energy of a young couple reinvigorates a neighborhood. It's a little refresh, not gentrification. It's lovely to see it play out. And there's a cat. Also, a refreshing lack of gender marking. Without words there's very little effort to define genders or relationships, there's just a couple of skirts. Just the warm feeling of people becoming closer across all demographics.

Library copy show less

In this wordless picture book, a young child and their grandparent live behind the general store where they work. The grandparent is hunched over with a rather grumpy expression, while the child is more cheerful and open; when the grown-up chases off an alley cat stealing fish, the child puts a can of tuna out in the alley for the cat.

When the grown-up puts an APARTMENT FOR RENT sign up in the window, there's some interest, but no takers - at first. Eventually, a young couple move in, armed with cleaning supplies and paint. They fix up the apartment, and begin making little fixes around the store too, adding flower boxes, waving to the neighbor reading on their porch. Slowly, the grandparent softens; the four of them have dinner show more together (the child lures the cat inside with a trail of cat food), and "and friends" is added to the general store's sign, along with a rainbow flag out front.

Careful attention to all of the illustrations show the slow transformation of both the place and the people. show less

Gr 3–5—A dedication to trans activists and the inclusion of nonbinary characters allow a simple message of love and
acceptance to resonate subtly. In this wordless book, grandparent and child provide a welcome home for two
strangers, who set about transforming not just their home but the community. Every meticulously detailed spread
offers a heartwarming message of renewal, hope, friendship, and compassion.

I would've liked it a lot better if I could have seen the details. In a wordless book, especially, the pictures need to be clear. I do not know what was special about the couple that finally took the apartment.

This book is recommended for primary students. This book shows a grandma and grandchild putting an apartment up for sale and the people who come to look at/ rent the apartment. In my future classroom I would use this for introducing/teaching inclusivity.

wordless; complex; delightful