IF YOU MISS ME
Written by Jocelyn Li Langrand
Illustrated by Jocelyn Li Langrand
Published by Orchard Books
/Scholastic, Dec 2021
2022 CLC Book Award Winner
2022 Klaus Flugge Prize longlisted
In the summer Charlie and her grandmother dance in the light of the moon, Charlie loves to dance and Grandma is her biggest fan. When Charlie returns to the city her grandma assures her that when they are apart Charlie need only look at the moon, and they will be united in its light, forever. But will Charlie truly understand what Grandma means by that? In the biggest show of the year, Charlie finds her answer.
This tender exploration of loss illuminates the boundless power of love to help and heal. It reminds us that the people who mean the most to us are always with us.
“For many children, the death of a grandparent can be their earliest, big loss. I was fortunate enough that all of my grandparents lived until I was an adult and even then the losses cut deep. Suffering that kind of loss as a child isn’t guaranteed but neither is it uncommon. Jocelyn Li Langrand tenderly and beautifully captures the depth of that loss while providing young ones a reminder that there is something of that relationship that endures….If You Miss Me is heart-warming and heart-rending all at once. It’s a beautiful book.”
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— Life is story
“This beautifully written and illustrated story is one of loss and love; one of grief and healing. It is a reminder that we are connected to our loved ones no matter where we (or they) are.”
-Joanna Ho, #1 New York Times bestselling author, EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNER
“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.”
“The dancing connection was beautiful, showing something they shared that becomes harder in grief but ultimately brings their happy memories back. For children who have lost a loved one, this book can help them to focus on the connections and memories they have to help with their grief.”
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— YA and Kids Books Central