One More Wednesday [Hardcover]

Malika Doray (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

On Wednesdays when I was little, Granny and I baked cakes and cookies....

And that was only one of the things that made Wednesdays -- and Granny -- special.

Malika Doray has written and illustrated a unique tale of love, loss, and understanding that will help and comfort anyone who has lost someone important, and open the way for all of us to talk about the mysteries of life, death, and eternity.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Wednesdays are always special for one certain little bunny. Every Wednesday he stays with his grandmother. They bake cookies and cakes (and then eat them up). They walk her dog, Bobo, in the park. And at the end of the day, the bunny falls asleep in Granny's lap, waiting for Papa to come pick him up. But one Wednesday he can't go see his grandmother--she's gone to the hospital. Soon after, she dies, and, with the help of his parents, the small, sad bunny tries to understand what that means.

Here is a truly lovely story about dying that is not overwhelmed by its objective. Parisian Malika Doray crafts a simple, understandable tale, told from a child's perspective, that will help any young person face the strange questions of life, love, death, and eternity. Especially touching is the mother's explanation of how, in a way, before he was born her baby bunny was already here because she and Papa wanted him so much. "And it's the same with Granny now. In some way she'll always be here because you love her so much." Unusual black brush drawings with dabs of color here and there make a visual impression not soon forgotten. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

French author/illustrator Doray's debut picture book treats the subject of death with tenderness and simplicity. Each Wednesday, a small rabbit spends the day with Granny. They bake together and take walks in the park; the grandchild listens to her sing while coloring. "But then one Wednesday came, and I couldn't go see Granny. She was in the hospital." Later, the youngster attends her funeral with his or her parents, but is confused. "Did this mean that my granny was gone forever?" The rabbit and Mama talk about death, and her words are comforting: "Before you were even born, in some way you were already here because we wanted you so much. And it's the same way with Granny now. In some way she'll always be here because you love her so much." The book ends on a happy note, as the youngster snuggles down to sleep buoyed by memories of their shared Wednesdays (Granny's dog at the bedside). The spareness of the text is mirrored in Doray's boldly delineated black-and-white line drawings, which are punched up with a single color per page a red balloon, a yellow sweater, a blue jacket, blades of green grass. An effective and eye-catching conceit, it helps keep attention tightly focused on the sympathetic development of the theme. Ages 4-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (March 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060295899
• ISBN-13: 978-0060295899
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,833,432 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Written, Sensitive Story, August 17, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: One More Wednesday (Hardcover)

"On Wednesday when I was little, Granny and I baked cakes and cookies. Then we ate them up." So begins Malika Doray's lovely picture book, One More Wednesday. This little bunny and his Granny spent every Wednesday together and had a very special relationship. Then came the Wednesday he couldn't go to her house because she was in the hospital and later he saw his Mama talking on the telephone and crying. His Papa explained that Granny had died. He went to the funeral, but really didn't understand. "Did this mean that my Granny was gone forever?" Patiently and quietly his mother explains the circle of life. "Before you were even born, in some way you were already here because we wanted you so much. And it's the same with Granny now. In some way she'll always be here because you love her so much." At first remembering was hard to do and the bunny felt sad and cried. But after awhile, thinking of her singing and her warm lap was nice. "And it almost could be one more Wednesday with my Granny." Ms Doray has authored a gentle and reassuring story that will help young children start to understand and accept the mysteries of death and eternity. Her tender and understated text is beautifully complemented by her simple and comforting black line drawings with just a single touch of color added here and there to enhance the artwork. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, One More Wednesday is neither maudlin nor overly sentimental and told with great honesty and wisdom.