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afro8921's review against another edition
4.0
A little girl has trouble finding the "sweet" in her life. Her grandmother tells her that life is a collection of bitter and sweet. But everything is changing and all of it seems bitter to her. This picture book would be a great way to talk about "fairness" and making your own sweetness with the preschool set.
afro75's review against another edition
4.0
A little girl has trouble finding the "sweet" in her life. Her grandmother tells her that life is a collection of bitter and sweet. But everything is changing and all of it seems bitter to her. This picture book would be a great way to talk about "fairness" and making your own sweetness with the preschool set.
cherylanntownsend's review against another edition
5.0
Hannah has to leave her neighborhood behind when her family relocates. Solemnly, she shores up with her grandmother’s comforting words to expect the bitter and the sweet.
When a neighbor her age stops by with a welcome gift of got chocolate mix. Hannah eagerly mixes it up, but gags on the bitterness in its first gulp. Further dismay ensues until the next day at school when the neighbor confesses forgetting the sweet additive.
A friendship forms as they share a cup and grandma’s promise rings true.
When a neighbor her age stops by with a welcome gift of got chocolate mix. Hannah eagerly mixes it up, but gags on the bitterness in its first gulp. Further dismay ensues until the next day at school when the neighbor confesses forgetting the sweet additive.
A friendship forms as they share a cup and grandma’s promise rings true.
tashrow's review
4.0
Hannah’s family was moving to a new city, but Hannah didn’t want to move away from her friends, her house or her neighborhood. Her grandmother told her about when she moved from the old country to America and how the experience was a mix of bitter and sweet. But when Hannah’s family moved, all she could see around her were bitter reminders of what she had lost. The new house had a smaller porch, the road was too hilly for good biking, and she didn’t know anyone. Even when a neighbor girl came over to meet Hannah, the gift of cocoa she left was bitter when Hannah tried it. The next day at school, the girl talked to Hannah about needing to add sugar. Soon Hannah realized that she had to put forth a little effort to discover the sweet that was always there.
Picture books about moving are plentiful every year, but this one has a lovely feeling about it that makes it stand out. The advice from her elders turns out to be true but I also appreciated that Hannah put her own spin on it in the end. The book depicts Hannah’s Jewish family with warmth and scenes that show their traditions. The advice also rings with Jewish wisdom and brings a traditional feel to a modern story.
The illustrations are done in mixed media that combines paint and collage very successfully. The result are images that have a lovely texture to them, fabrics and paper that layer with one another. There is a beautiful light and color to the images that conveys hope even as Hannah struggles to see the sweet.
A rich picture book that looks at difficult times in life through a lens of hope and acceptance. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Picture books about moving are plentiful every year, but this one has a lovely feeling about it that makes it stand out. The advice from her elders turns out to be true but I also appreciated that Hannah put her own spin on it in the end. The book depicts Hannah’s Jewish family with warmth and scenes that show their traditions. The advice also rings with Jewish wisdom and brings a traditional feel to a modern story.
The illustrations are done in mixed media that combines paint and collage very successfully. The result are images that have a lovely texture to them, fabrics and paper that layer with one another. There is a beautiful light and color to the images that conveys hope even as Hannah struggles to see the sweet.
A rich picture book that looks at difficult times in life through a lens of hope and acceptance. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
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