Always Remember

by Cece Meng, Jago (Illustrator)

Overview

A lyrically told, beautifully illustrated book that brings comfort to children—and adults—who have lost someone they love

After Old Turtle swims his last swim and breathes his last breath, and the waves gently take him away, his friends lovingly remember how he impacted each and every one of them. As the sea animals think back on how much better Old Turtle made their lives and their world, they realize that he is not truly gone, because his memory and legacy will last forever.
 
Jago's gorgeous illustrations accompany Cece Meng's serene text in a book that will help chidren understand and cope with the death of a loved one.
  
  
Praise for Always Remember: 

"Without mentioning a deity or religion, the text discusses how people remember those who have died and how their lives live on beyond them. Understated, unsentimental, and gently done."—Kirkus Reviews

"A sweet and poignant story with multiple layers for delving deeper."—School Library Journal 

"This makes a comforting choice for families dealing with loss."—Booklist

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399168093
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	02/16/2016
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	241,422
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD570L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Cece Meng (www.cecemengbooks.com) is the author of Bedtime is Canceled, I Will Not Read This Book, The Wonderful Thing About Hiccups and Tough Chicks. She lives with her family in Santa Cruz, California. You can follow her on Twitter at @iwrite4kids.
 
Jago (www.jagoillustration.com) is the award-winning illustrator of Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing, among many others. He lives with his wife and children in Cornwall, United Kingdom. You can follow him on Twitter at @jago.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Always Remember: 

"Without mentioning a deity or religion, the text discusses how people remember those who have died and how their lives live on beyond them. Understated, unsentimental, and gently done."—Kirkus Reviews

"A sweet and poignant story with multiple layers for delving deeper."—School Library Journal  

"This makes a comforting choice for families dealing with loss."—Booklist 

From the Publisher

12/01/2015
PreS-Gr 2—A touching tribute to a compassionate and wise friend who dies, this tells the story of the beautiful sea creatures living in the deep and the challenges that they face. Life in the reef was made better for all of the sea creatures because of Old Turtle. He was a thoughtful friend and a skilled teacher. When disaster struck, Old Turtle was there to lend a helping hand and fix problems. He was an adventurer, an explorer, and a comedian, and he will be sorely missed. The day Old Turtle dies, his absence is felt by all. However, his legacy will live on forever. This is a wonderful reminder that each act of kindness that one commits has great impact on others. The deep blues, greens, and browns of the full-page digitally created illustrations take readers underwater for a sneak peek of life below the surface. Each situation introduced by the text becomes more vivid because of the rich colors and attention to detail. VERDICT A sweet and poignant story with multiple layers for delving deeper.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

School Library Journal

2015-10-19
When Old Turtle dies, his friends remember. The text is in white, dropped-out letters on dark and glowing full-bleed backgrounds, which take place in the waters of the sea. The animals are only slightly anthropomorphized visually, but their thoughts and emotions are very human. The word "death" is never used, but the story opens with Old Turtle (probably not the same Old Turtle as Douglas Wood's) on his last day, when he "swam his last swim and took his last breath." The other turtles remember how he taught them to swim; the sea otters remember how he loved to play and laugh; a starfish and a manatee remember how Old Turtle rescued them from danger. After each glimpse at an animal or animal community that Old Turtle touched, the refrain emphasizes they will always remember. The final page sums it up: "he made his world a better place. / When he was done, the ocean took him back." Without mentioning a deity or religion, the text discusses how people remember those who have died and how their lives go on beyond them. Understated, unsentimental, and gently done. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews