Grandma Lives in a Perfume Village
Xiao Le’s grandmother lives in a faraway village. A visit with Grandma is always a special event, but this time she is frail. With encouragement from his mom, Xiao Le plays with and helps Grandma. When Grandma dies shortly thereafter, Xiao Le comforts his mom—reminding her that when it rains, Grandma is washing her clothes in the sky . . . and that although the Perfume Village in heaven cannot be reached by train, it can be accessed by the heart. Fang Suzhen’s moving story, with stunning illustrations by Sonja Danowski, is a powerful reminder that love transcends all.
This is a refreshing contemporary meditation on death and grief set outside the United States. The gentle story and luminous illustrations make a strong addition.
School Library Journal
What stands out most, however, are the magnificent illustrations by German artist Sonja Danowski.
Smithsonian Book Dragon Blog
The narrative and illustration both capture the emotional and imaginative world of children with precision and complexity. Adult and children readers alike will be moved by the intricate way the book grapples with issues of aging, sickness, death and the impossible task of saying good-bye to a loved one.
Nan Ma, The International Examiner
Fang, a beloved Taiwanese author and children’s literature advocate, offers a tender look at the time just before a child understands the finality of death.
New York Times Book Review
Exquisitely executed work.
Publishers Weekly
This is a sad but warm story which can help young children understand that death is a part of life, and that memories we have of our loved ones continue to bring us comfort after they are gone.
Five Books
Beautiful, realistic color illustrations add a timeless touch to this heartfelt storybook, which is also ideal for bridging difficult discussions with young children about losing loved ones.
Midwest Book Review
- Batchelder Honor Book, 2016
