Lottie the Chicken deals with the loss of Aunt Mattie in this gently sad and sweetly funny picture book that explores the death of a loved one, in the tradition of Judith Viorst's The Tenth Good Thing about Barney. Aunt Mattie has died. But before she went, she got to say good-bye to Lottie. Then she got to follow a light to a bustling gate. (A gate that sounded a lot like a busy airport!) And there she found a crew of friends who were waiting to take off with her on a new journey. Will Lottie and Herbie be able to overcome their sadness? They will, with time, and by taking a journey of their own--a journey filled with a little heartache, a lot of happiness, and a batch of Aunt Mattie's favorite peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. (With bananas, of course!)
Format: Hardback
CONTRIBUTORS: Petra Mathers
EAN: 9781481410441
COUNTRY: United States
PAGES:
WEIGHT: 302 g
HEIGHT: 171 cm
PUBLISHED BY: Simon & Schuster
DATE PUBLISHED: 2014-09-09
CITY:
GENRE: JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Ducks, Geese, etc., JUVENILE FICTION / Family / General, JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Death, Grief, Bereavement
WIDTH: 260 cm
SPINE:
Book Themes:
Children’s picture books, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General, modern and contemporary fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Nature and animal stories, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Birds, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Families and family members, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Death and grief
There are many books about death for children, but this one, in both tone and tale, is unique. Lottie the hen phones her friend Herbie the duck when she learns that 99-year-old Aunt Mattie is very ill. Herbie gets it. "You mean it's like her motor is all worn out." On the bus ride into town, Lottie thinks about the fun the three of them have had, especially taking the motorboat out to Pudding Rock. Once in the hospital, Lottie must adjust to what's going on as she watches her aunt breath heavily and realizes that they are spending their last moments together. Then, Aunt Mattie is gone. Although Herbie fears the tunnel traffic, he has braved it to be with Lottie, and he is at her side when she says, "I am so sad." Herbie reminds her, "We are together." Later, at Auntie's home, Lottie finds a letter from her, that helps a little, and later, Lottie and Herbie go to Pudding Rock and scatter her ashes. Both funny and wise, this covers the many moments that make up a death: the memories, the sadness, and the solace. Mather's small, squared watercolor art are simple yet touched with whimsy (in one scene, Aunt Mattie gets ready for "take-off" with friends greeting her at a plane), while the text knowingly captures the feeling of the bereaved: "Maybe our hearts ache because Aunt Mattie is moving in."--Booklist, September 1, 2014 *STARRED REVIEW
Petra Mathers is the author and illustrator of many children's books, including her beloved Lottie series. Lottie's New Beach Towel was Book of the Year for Parenting Magazine, and Lottie's New Friend was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and won the Silver Medal from the New York Society of Illustrators. She lives in Astoria, Oregon. Petra Mathers is the author and illustrator of many children's books, including her beloved Lottie series. Lottie's New Beach Towel was Book of the Year for Parenting Magazine, and Lottie's New Friend was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and won the Silver Medal from the New York Society of Illustrators. She lives in Astoria, Oregon.
