Grandpa's Soup

Summary: When Grandma dies, Grandpa is too sad to do anything. All day long, day after day, he sits by himself in his house. Then, one day, Grandpa wakes up and decides to try to make the soup his wife used to make for him. Though each batch he makes is bigger and better than the last, Grandpa hardly gets a taste of it. Unexpected visitors, hungry for soup, keep arriving at his door. Soon, Grandpa discovers that sharing with his new friends is the best cure for his loneliness. Quotes:AWARDS and RECOGNITIONSAmerican Booksellers Association, Bookselling This Week: "Kids Pick of the Lists" (2000)Parent Council, Ltd., Selected as Outstanding (2000)Bank Street College, Best of the Best, Outstanding Books of 1997 to 2001Children's Literature"This book is lovely, and the illustrations are perfect for the text." The Horn Book Guide"Unhappy after Grandma's death, Grandpa finally decides to re-create the soup she used to cook. With each try, he remembers another ingredient, and every day he shares his soup with an increasing number of guests ? from mice to children. In this simple but eloquent story, the illustrations become lighter, more colorful, and larger as Grandpa's spirits improve and expand." Booklist"The story is translated from Japanese, but its gentle lessons on coping with grief are applicable to any culture." Publishers Weekly"Ichikawa's lifelike paintings brim with particulars, such as figures outlined on the door's curtain to foreshadow the identities of each batch of hungry diners. Spot art appears alongside the text, helping youngsters read between the lines. Originally published in Japan, this endearing book features a multiethnic cast, and the message, too, transcends cultures."Author Bio: Eiko Kadono was born in Tokyo. After graduating from WasedaUniversity, she has made a career of writing picture booksand fairy tales. She has received numerous book awards inJapan.Satomi Ichikawa was born in Gihu, Japan, and moved to Parisin the 1970s. She is known for the warmth and charm shebrings to her characters and has won numerous awards forher book illustrations. Satomi is perhaps best known in theUnited States as the illustrator of Dance, Tanya byPatricia Gauch.