What a Beautiful Morning

by Arthur Levine, Katie Kath

Overview

Every morning is beautiful when Noah visits his Grandparents. When Grandpa and Noah wake up, they take off singing and hardly stop: walking the dog, splashing through puddles, and eating French toast with cinnamon.

But one summer Grandpa seems to have forgotten how to do the things they love. Does he even know who Noah is?

Grandma steps in energetically, filling in as best she can. But it is Noah who finds the way back to something he can share with Grandpa. Something musical. Something that makes the morning beautiful again.

This is a story about how love helps us find even what we think is lost.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762459063
Publisher:	Running Press Book Publishers
Publication date:	08/09/2016
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	644,142
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Arthur A. Levine has published poetry and picture books for young readers including Monday is One Day illustrated by Julian Hector and All the Lights in the Night illustrated by James Ransome. He is also the editor and publisher of many well-known and beloved books for young people including J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He lives in the New York metropolitan area with his family.

Katie Kath is an award-winning illustrator from the rolling hills of North Carolina, and lives with her husband and their cat. She works primarily in watercolor and ink. She cherishes the memory of making music with her own grandparents, sitting at their ancient pianola, and trying to get it to play the torn-up scroll of "Don't Bring Lulu".

Editorial Reviews

05/30/2016
Noah’s grandfather has always been boisterous and full of song, launching each day with a signature catchphrase—“What’s on the docket?”—that promises nonstop fun. But this summer, Grandpa’s memory is failing him, and he doesn’t always recognize Noah; Kath’s (More Than Enough) watercolors depict the older man with the radiance literally drained from his face. While never mentioning a specific medical condition, Grandma tells a devastated Noah that “we have to appreciate what he still has, not focus on what he’s lost.” As Noah comes to terms with his new relationship with Grandpa, including learning that singing can still connect them to each other, his sense of the world widens: he can have “his own docket” (acting independently in the world), as well as a docket with Grandma, who, one senses, has always been a willing second banana to her lively husband. It’s a lovely, bittersweet story, and Levine (Monday Is One Day) carefully modulates a challenging emotional arc, offering readers just the right measure of hope. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Susan Cohen, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Associates. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"Both lovely and deeply empathetic."
-Kirkus Reviews


"It's a lovely, bittersweet story, and Levine carefully modulates a challenging emotional arc, offering readers just the right measure of hope."
-Publishers Weekly


"[a] perfect picture book story about how love helps us find even what we think is lost... very highly recommended for family, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 4 to 8."
-Midwest Book Reviews



"A comforting, honest resource ideal for little ones confronted by aging relatives."—-Booklist

From the Publisher

07/01/2016
PreS-Gr 2—Noah loves visiting his grandparents and especially spending time with Grandpa. Summer days there always begin with a "booming song" about a beautiful morning. Grandma is no morning up-and-at-'em person, so Noah and Grandpa bring her a nice cup of coffee to help her day get started. Then they go for a walk with the dog, rain or shine, singing all the way. Back home for breakfast, they make their plans and check "what's on the docket" for the day. This particular summer, however, things are different. Grandpa forgets to ask about the docket, and one morning he can't even remember how to cut his French toast. Even worse, one day Grandpa fails to recognize Noah when he wakes up from a nap. These changes are scary and make Noah very sad. Grandma tries to explain and helps Noah focus on appreciating "what [Grandpa] still has…not on what he's lost," even though that means some days Noah completes his docket all by himself. One day when Noah is playing the piano and singing loudly, Grandpa joins in, just like old times. Lunch goes pretty well, too, as Noah sings Grandpa's favorite Tuna Fish Sandwich Song. But it's not really the same anymore. So Grandma and Noah come up with a docket plan themselves while Grandpa naps. Some days for Noah and Grandpa seem like old times, and some don't, but they'll go on their walks together still, singing "as long as the song would last." Kath's charming illustrations are done in watercolor and ink. She hints at Grandpa's state of mind by changing the color of his shirt and scenery from full color to grays as the dementia takes over. The layout is easy on the eye, and the book remains child focused and upbeat. VERDICT This sweet and tender story about dealing with change and loss is suitable for sharing in a group or one-on-one. No happy ending here, but a satisfyingly realistic one all the same.—Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA

School Library Journal

2016-05-04
When old age takes its toll on Grandpa's memory, Noah learns to value every moment with him.Noah's summer days with Grandpa are full of fun activities. They boom out a loud song together as they make morning coffee. More songs fill the air as they walk the dog before breakfast; when they return home, they get to eat Grandma's special cinnamon French toast. One morning, Grandpa forgets how to cut his French toast and can't remember who Noah is. Noah runs out of the house, a painful lump in his throat. Fortunately, Grandma is able to explain that Grandpa gets confused sometimes. "We have to appreciate what he still has." Noah goes ahead, walking the dog by himself, feeding the birds, and plunking out one of Grandpa's favorite tunes on the piano. Grandpa suddenly appears, his bright old self, singing the song at the top of his lungs. Levine treats his sensitive subject with simple pathos. Kath depicts a loving white trio; Noah's parents are not in evidence, letting readers imagine either that he is a regular overnight visitor or that he lives with his grandparents. She uses color subtly, graying her movement-filled line-and-watercolor paintings for those moments when Grandpa forgets and filling them with color when he remembers. Readers who also find themselves with cognitively failing loved ones would do well to heed Noah's wisdom as he plans "to go for as long as the song would last."Both lovely and deeply empathetic. (Picture book. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews