Grandad's Island

When faced with death, children are often told, for better or worse, that the person is in a better place now. In the case of a boy named Syd, he knows for a fact that his Grandad is somewhere pretty spectacular. In this gentle, magic-tinged allegory, Grandad lives in a small house back behind Syd's home. After opening a "big metal door" in Grandad's attic, the two are transported to the deck of a giant ocean liner, which towers over the neighboring buildings in their seaside town. A quick journey takes Syd and Grandad to an island dense with jungle foliage and populated by colorful birds, orangutans, and wonders to discover. Together, they refurbish a raggedy shack on stilts and splash around below a waterfall, after which Grandad tells Syd, "I'm thinking of staying," and the boy returns home. "The journey seemed much longer without Grandad," writes Davies. As with The Storm Whale, Davies offers a story of loneliness and togetherness distinguished by understated, deeply felt emotions and a nautical milieu. Ages 4-8. Agent: Vicki Willden-Lebrecht, Bright Literary Agency. (Apr.)

K-Gr 2--Syd pays an ordinary visit to his grandfather's house, when Grandad shows him a mysterious metal door in the attic. Syd and Grandad walk through the door and are suddenly aboard a huge ship. They dock at an island, where Grandad and Syd explore and go swimming. Then Grandad breaks the news to Syd--he is thinking of staying on the island with his jungle animal friends. Syd hugs Grandad one last time and boards the huge ship back to the real world, alone. The next morning, Grandad's house is vacant and the metal door in the attic is gone. Then a toucan delivers a postcard to Syd from Grandad and the jungle animals. This book is innovative and useful as a way to talk about the idea of loss--without ever referring to actual death. Parents and educators can use this to talk with a child about how it's normal to be sad and miss loved ones. It can also be read to explain to children how it might seem strange to see loved ones' old houses empty but that they are in a special place and still love them very much. Cheerful, brightly colored illustrations make this a fine choice to use with the youngest of audiences. Since death isn't directly specified, this title also works for when a child's loved one is moving far away.