If You Miss Me

by Jocelyn Li Langrand, Jocelyn Li Langrand (Illustrator)

Overview

A healing story of loss and love, this beautiful picture book reminds us that the people who mean the most to us are always with us.

Charlie loves to dance her way through life with her grandma. They may not always be together, but each time they part Grandma says, "If you miss me, look at the moon." Then winter brings unexpected change, and not even dancing feels the same. What will Charlie do? Will Grandma come to see her dance again? In the biggest show of the year, Charlie finds her answer. This tender exploration of loss from debut author-illustrator Jocelyn Li Langrand illuminates the boundless power of love to help and heal.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338680690
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	12/07/2021
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,070,154
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jocelyn Li Langrand is an author/illustrator and visual designer. Originally from China, she now lives in the California Bay Area, and finds that her heritage and travel influence everything she creates. If You Miss Me is her first picture book. Visit her at jocelynlilangrand.com.

Editorial Reviews

08/13/2021

PreS-Gr 1—Charlie dances through life, and her adoring grandmother loves to watch her. While they cannot be together, Grandmother tells Charlie to look at the moon if she misses her, and she will do the same. The time soon comes when grandmother cannot travel, and then she passes away; Charlie is lost, unable to dance as she did before. It is the moon, and her memory of Grandmother, that helps her dance again and recover from her grief and loneliness. Langrand's delightful digital images sometimes spread over full pages; other times they are vignettes, two to a page. Though simple, the illustrations amplify the joy of dancing on stage and all over town, the sadness of saying goodbye when Charlie has to go home to the city, and the cold desolation of winter without Grandmother. Although not specifically described, the family appears to be Asian in an area of Eastern houses and scenery, but there are characters of other races in Charlie's class, at her dance recitals, and on the streets. VERDICT This sweet, universal tale of family and loss will help young children understand the concepts of death and grief in a comforting and loving way.—MaryAnn Karre, Binghamton, NY

School Library Journal

2021-09-15
The moon is a symbol of the special, long-lasting bond between a young dancer and her grandmother.

All day Charlie dances, in class and all over town, and Grandma is there to watch. At night, the pair dances together and makes wishes on the moon. When Charlie moves to the city, Grandma tells her, “If you miss me, look at the moon. I will do the same.” Grandma visits, and the two talk on the phone—but then Grandma dies. Charlie is lost, but she keeps dancing. On the night of the biggest recital of the year, the moon shines through the theater window, and Charlie knows that Grandma is there dancing with her. The illustrations, relying heavily on vibrant greens, supportive neutrals, and inviting textures, mirror Charlie’s emotional journey through the passing of the seasons. Charlie’s love of dance is evident throughout, especially in joyful illustrations showing a wide range of dancing styles, including classical ballet, showy tap, traditional Asian dances, and jazzy ballroom. Charlie and Grandma appear to be Asian, with light tan skin and black hair. The spare, descriptive third-person narration follows a linear plot. The message about the moon creating connection is prematurely revealed midway through the story, somewhat diminishing Charlie’s recital night epiphany. Nevertheless, for readers experiencing the loss of a loved one, the message will ring true.

A simple exploration of intergenerational love that lasts beyond the passing of a grandparent. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews