Picture of Grace
Book Overview: 
- Author: Josh Armstrong
- Illustrated by: Taylor Bills
- Paperback: 36 pages
- Publisher: Josh Armstrong (February 17, 2015)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0986237019
- ISBN-13: 978-0986237010
Book Summary:
"When I grow up, I want to be just like you," said Grace"That's very kind of you," said Grandpa Walt, "but I can think of nothing better than you simply being yourself."
Six-year-old Grace aspires to be an artist like her beloved grandfather Walt. Every week, she goes to his house and watches with great joy as he paints.
Of course, not everyone appreciates Grandpa Walt's artwork. But as Walt tells Grace, "Some people appreciate the hard work while others just want the painting to be finished. But you can't be distracted by either group."
When tragedy strikes, Grace takes it upon herself to honor Grandpa Walt in a special way. Through her act of love and kindness, Grace's family discovers an amazing secret about Walt's final, unfinished masterpiece.
My Review:
This book is exactly why I love and stay open to reading self-published books. I adored this book from start to finish. This may not be a book that we would read every night, but it is a special book to provide comfort following the loss of a loved one.Picture of Grace is impeccably written, beautifully illustrated, and thoughtfully laid out. This is a story about death and grief. It is difficult to read in that it is sad and much more direct than most children's books. It will bring a tear to your eye, but it will also bring warmth to your heart. What I love about this book is how it tells a story about grief and sadness without having to directly state how Grace feels about her grandfather dying. The illustrations are complementary to the text, leaving the most difficult of emotions to be shown and felt instead of said.
I liked that this book does not speak directly about religion, which allows a person to give Picture of Grace to a family dealing with loss of a loved one without fear of offending or conflicting with any singular religious view on death. I also appreciate how the book shows a child processing the emotions of grief instead of telling a child it will "be alright." In that sense, the book intelligently speaks to a child without talking down to a child, which is what I often find when I read books that address death.
I highly recommend this book. Please keep it in mind if you are searching for a warm way to ease the pain when a child loses someone they love.
To Purchase:
This book is available for purchase through Amazon by clicking on the image of the book:FTC Required Disclosures:
*I received a review copy from the author free of charge. All opinions expressed in this review represent my honest opinions about the book. **This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase the books through these links, I receive a small portion of the payment, which I use to support this blog. Thanks for your support!