The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins

by Lester L. Laminack, Constance R. Bergum (Illustrator)

Overview

A poignant tale of an elderly nursing home resident who seems to live in a world of memories, from award-winning author Lester L. Laminack.

Although Miss Olivia is unable to respond and doesn't always seem to notice her family, her daughter Angel and grandson Troy know better. They know that Momma Olivia has an inner life filled with beautiful memories.

Anything from a stunning sunset to the mention of her porch swing can remind her of her past, when she was just a little girl out on the farm with her papa or, more recently, at a birthday party shared with her daughter. Although she can no longer do the things she used to do or communicate her thoughts, she's still the Momma Olivia they know and love.

In tender terms children can understand, Lester L. Laminack gives voice to the seldom discussed tragedy of watching a loved one age and slip into the past. Constance R. Bergum's delicate watercolors softly express the love that holds a family together during times of hardship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682630631
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	08/07/2018
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	687,951
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Lester L. Laminack is a specialist in children's literacy and professor emeritus at Western Carolina University. Laminack has written numerous books and articles for educators in addition to his picture books, and he is a sought-after speaker at professional meetings and reading associations nationwide. He lives in North Carolina.

Constance R. Bergum grew up in Montana and received an MFA in illustration from Marywood University. After a career as a graphic designer, she began illustrating children's books. She lives in Montana.

Editorial Reviews

K-Gr 3--When her daughter and great-grandson visit Miss Olivia Wiggins in a nursing home, their words and actions cause the woman to remember significant moments in her life. A repeated phrase, "She didn't move, she didn't even blink, but slowly, quietly she began to think..." signals the change from the present to the past. These remembrances, which occur on every other page, are printed in italics. Through this story, readers will be reassured that older people can have a full inner life and will understand the importance of visiting them. With the growing number of elderly requiring full-time care, this book could fulfill a need. However, its appeal to youngsters is doubtful. Unlike Mem Fox's Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (Kane/Miller, 1985), which addresses a similar subject, the story here is told from an adult perspective. The sun-dappled watercolor illustrations work with the text to present a sanitized, loving tribute to one woman's life. They do try to create a child-oriented connection between the past and the present by including a toy horse in many of the scenes and yet it's not enough. The overall focus of this title remains on the adult with little to engage youngsters.--Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI

School Library Journal

"Through this story readers will be reassured that older people can have a full inner life and will understand the importance of visiting them."—School Library Journal

"Realistic watercolors flow gently between present and past in this tender depiction of a life well lived, which speaks to the value of maintaining loving relationships, even when they are altered by Alzheimer's disease."—Booklist

"Moments of real eloquence. . . . The book provides an unusually empathic look at the reality of aging. . . . Children perplexed or upset by their own visits to deteriorating elders may find this book helpful and even consoling."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher