Emily loves to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Like most grandchildren, she gets lots of affection and the freedom to do what she wants. But sadly, every visit comes to an end, leaving Emily longing for a way to feel close to her grandparents ... until she can see them again.
Gold medal winner of a prestigious Mom's Choice Award and an IPPY award winner too, this gracefully illustrated story begins with Emily's sorrowful wishes: ''I wish you didn t live so far away. I wish I could sleep over any time I want.'' It continues with a special gift from Grandma and Grandpa that teaches Emily to use her imagination, memory, and natural surroundings to feel connected to her grandparents. In the end, Emily surprises her grandparents with a gift of her own, showing them that children are not the only ones who can use memories and imagination as comfort when they are missing those they hold dear.
.... a wonderful book addressing the emotions that almost every child experiences when it is time to leave their grandparents' house. --Reader Views
Children ages 3 to 8, especially those who have grandparents or other relatives living some distance away, will appreciate this book. The book would likely be helpful for a child in a broken home where one parent lives a distance away or only has limited visitation rights. --BookIdeas.com
Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa is a recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award Gold Medal for Children's Picture Books. The Mom's Choice Awards honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of the Mom's Choice Awards. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. --Mom's Choice Awards
Illustrator Joni Stringfield's bright and cheery illustrations capture the mood of the story. Christian expresses her wish for the book in her From the Author: ''It is my sincere hope that the gift of this book strengthens the bond between you, your children, and their grandparents and that it may grow to be a cherished keepsake for generations to come.'' The book should fulfill her hope. --MyShelf.com
About the Author
Alayne Kay Christian is a writer, certified life coach, and proud grandmother to three-year-old Elle. Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa was born out of the struggle and longing she experienced as a ''remote'' grandparent and her dedication to ensuring that Elle felt the love of her grandparents when they could not be together. Born in the Rockies, raised in Chicago, a former resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, and now living in the North Dallas suburbs, Alayne knows what it is like to move around as a grandparent. Alayne's writing shares the creative spirit and kinship with nature that organically resides in her heart.
About the Illustrator
Joni Stringfield is a lifelong artist and freelance illustrator specializing in children's creations. Having recently completed illustrations on the picture book Circle of Three, Joni makes her second foray into this genre with Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa. As has been the case since childhood, she spends her time drawing, painting, and reading. Currently living and working in San Francisco, California, Joni feels fortunate to be able to employ the artistic passions of her youth in her professional (and somewhat grown-up) career.
Product Details
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Blue Whale Press; First edition (November 1, 2008)
This review is from: Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa (Mom's Choice and Independent Publisher Awards Recipient) (Hardcover)
This book is about a little girl with grandparents that live far away. The little girl's grandmother makes her a book that shows her how she can use her imagination and memories to be close to her grandma and grandpa even when she can't be with them. My daughter's grandparents also live far away so she is very interested in the book. The book has been a way to comfort my daughter and has given her something to relate to. It has a neat concept in that, you get to read the book that the grandma in the story writes as well, so it's a book within a book. My daughter loves the illustrations and we have great fun giving each other our own butterfly kisses while we're reading it. I think the book engages my daughter's imagination and emotions and gives us a chance to explore a little bit of nature too. I have purchased the book as a gift for her grandparents because they liked it so much when they read it as well. I think it brought a tear to my mother's eye. I would definitely suggest this book for anyone, but especially for people that are challenged by distance.
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This review is from: Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa (Mom's Choice and Independent Publisher Awards Recipient) (Hardcover)
As parent, grandparent and professional counselor, I highly recommend Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa. Alayne Kay Christian has beautifully brought together the importance of addressing and valuing a child's feelings, while at the same time bridging the distance between grandparent and grandchild. Emily's thoughts and feelings are heard and Grandma allows Emily to see her own sadness when it is time to leave each other. What a wonderful example to set for Emily!
In this electronic world of computers, DS's, Wii and all other sorts of push button toys, it is refreshing to read a book like this, so focused on the power of the imagination, while using that power to connect to nature. Emily is taught by her grandparents to use all the everyday experiences in nature to reconnect with them. This is such a simple concept, yet so profound. Since young children think in a very concrete way and love nature, this approach meets them at their level of understanding.
I wish this book had been available when my two oldest grandchildren, now 12 and 15, who live in California, were young. I remember the many sad departures. I know that Butterfly Kisses would have been a welcome assist for all of us.
I see this book as a memorable piece in every grandchild's library, even if he or she only lives across town. Butterfly Kisses can fly over both short and long distances.
Mary Kullman, MS, LCPC
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This review is from: Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa (Mom's Choice and Independent Publisher Awards Recipient) (Hardcover)
Yes, all little ones go through this at one time or another - or even multiple times! Our 3 year old grandson typically laments at the end of our telephone conversations - "I wanna go to papa's house!" This story is a nice warm one that discusses the impacts and warm fuzzies for the feelings Emily and lots of other kids have as they pack up to go home from grandma and prandpa's house. It is a great story to share grandparent to grandchild!
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