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40 pp.
| HarperCollins/Clarion
| July, 2021
|
Trade
ISBN 978-1-328-91675-4
$17.99
|
Ebook
ISBN 978-0-358-53184-5
$12.99
(
2)
PS
Illustrated by
Alea Marley.
Only a year apart in age, siblings Henry and Liza are inseparable. They play imaginative games together; hang out by "the Twisty Tree"; travel in the same social circles; and pass all milestones together, in lockstep. But when Liza goes to kindergarten, Henry stays at home, feeling angry and abandoned. He tries to get on with his usual activities without Liza and eventually discovers the swings, where he invents some new moves all by himself. When the two reunite at the end of the day, they have much to share about how they spent their time apart. Henry teaches Liza one of his swing tricks, and Liza teaches Henry her class cheer. Digital illustrations nicely capture the nature of preschool-aged play, incorporating doodles when representing the imaginary elements. The "Twisty Tree"--with its massive trunk, overhanging branches, and blue-green, hair-like leaves--is the book's visual highlight. This story validates children's fear of change and separation from a loved one but also offers assurance that these feelings pass, and that moments apart are not only productive for our self-growth, but they also make the time we do spend together all the more special.