{"id":8306462884077,"title":"Just Us","handle":"just-us","description":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/molly-beth-griffin\"\u003eMolly Beth Griffin\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/anait-semirdzhyan\"\u003eAnait Semirdzhyan\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow can it be the holidays if everyone isn't together?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne year, a storm prevents all the relatives from coming to visit for the holidays. No Grandma, no aunts, no uncles, no cousins. No fun! This family will have to adapt their traditions to versions that can be done on a smaller scale—a simpler stew dinner, a hike in the snow, and a game of cards instead of rowdy charades. Navigating disappointment with mindfulness and gratitude, the family pieces together a holiday full of new traditions, while still acknowledging that it's okay to miss the old ones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/archie-celebrates-diwali\"\u003eArchie Celebrates Diwali\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/latkes-and-applesauce\"\u003eLatkes and Applesauce\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/samis-special-gift\"\u003eSami's Special Gift\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/gingerbread-dreidels\"\u003eGingerbread Dreidels\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n[TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/just-us-spread.jpg?v=1701180378\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/just-us-cover.jpg?v=1701180378\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/just-us-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1701180379\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/just-us-activity-kit.pdf?v=1710776597\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Activity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMolly Beth Griffin, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMolly Beth Griffin is a graduate of Hamline University's MFA program in writing for children and young adults and a writing teacher at the Loft Literary Center in the Twin Cities. She is the author of \u003cem\u003eTen Beautiful Things, Loon Baby, \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e Silhouette of a Sparrow.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/molly-beth-griffin\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Molly Beth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnait Semirdzhyan, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnait Semirdzhyan has a passion for illustrating children's books. She is the illustrator of several picture books such as \u003cem\u003eBábo: A Tale of Armenian Rug-Washing Day, The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale,\u003c\/em\u003e and\u003cem\u003e The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story.\u003c\/em\u003e She lives in Seattle with her husband and twin daughters. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/anait-semirdzhyan\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Anait.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eCCBC Choices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAfter a snowstorm snarls travel, a family of four explores new ways to celebrate, “just us,” in Griffin’s emotionally aware story. With opening first-person lines, a youthful speaker describes the jubilant festivities that take place every year with extended family, portrayed with pale skin, including a “big, big dinner, everybody together,” “charades, loud and rowdy,” and three kinds of pie. In the absence of these traditions, the narrating child and a sibling, led by Mom and Mama, fill the day with cozy activities—cooking stew, hiking through the snow, playing a card game—that each prove enjoyable in their own way. When pent-up disappointment results in an understandable emotional outburst, the foursome loops in Grandma virtually for a “sweet” ending. Semirdzhyan’s scribbly-lined drawings create animated narrative scenes that capture the range of sentiments suggested by the story’s focuses on togetherness and adaptability. An apple crisp recipe concludes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHoliday traditions can be a source of great comfort and fun. Conversely, a sudden disruption feels challenging to anyone, especially to young children. The little narrator of this story is used to having a full house for the holidays, replete with lots of food, loud games, and, of course, Grandma’s pies. Disappointingly, a surprise snowstorm prevents her grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and their pets from coming, so the rambunctious family event becomes “Just Mom, Mama, my brother, and me.” Nevertheless, the little family gamely makes the best of the changed circumstances, cooking a pot of stew instead of a feast, going for a snowy hike, playing cards, and, with grandma’s virtual help, whipping up some apple crisp instead of pie. Ultimately, they realize that something different can still feel special. Semirdzhyan’s illustrations effectively alternate vignettes and spreads, with an almost sketch-like style lovingly capturing the domestic warmth of both extended and nuclear families. A recipe for Grandma’s Apple Crisp is included in the back.\nVERDICT A charming, cozy tale that emphasizes the importance of family and flexibility in holiday celebrations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCCBC Choices\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEvery year during the winter holidays, the young narrator’s Grandma flies in to visit, and her aunts and uncles arrive at her house by car with all the cousins. “Every year we play charades, loud and rowdy. Then we light a fire in the fireplace and eat Grandma’s three kinds of pie. That’s what happens every year. It’s tradition.” This year a huge snowstorm disrupts travel plans and it’s just her immediate family members (all are white): Mom, Mama, her brother and her. “Would it even feel like the holidays with just us?” Mom directs them in making stew in the slow cooker (no turkey from Aunt Sarah), and Mama leads them on a hike through the glittering snowy landscape. There aren’t enough people for charades after dinner, but they play cards. “It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t rowdy. But it was kind of fun anyway ...” Still, when it’s time for the fire and dessert, the narrator’s lingering disappointment brims over—no pie! A video call to grandma, in which she talks them through making apple crisp, is the perfect salve. “It was just us, but it still felt special.” This entertaining, relatable, emotionally honest story is full of delight in the details while illuminating ways disappointment can sometimes make space for unexpected pleasure, and even new traditions. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-443-0\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 3–7\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e11 x 8\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: August 27, 2024\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2023-12-08T14:14:02-05:00","created_at":"2023-11-28T09:07:39-05:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 3-6","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Fiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Holidays","Browse by Subject_Life Lessons \u0026 Skills","Browse by Subject_Story Time \u0026 Play"],"price":1799,"price_min":1799,"price_max":1799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":44514550251757,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"44430","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":39268093657325,"product_id":8306462884077,"position":1,"created_at":"2023-11-28T09:14:31-05:00","updated_at":"2023-11-28T09:14:33-05:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":467,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/just-us-cover_6e502a64-d9c2-4f6a-9883-8209921b8da5.jpg?v=1701180873","variant_ids":[44514550251757]},"available":true,"name":"Just Us - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1799,"weight":567,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":5,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623544430","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":31882750951661,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.285,"height":467,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/just-us-cover_6e502a64-d9c2-4f6a-9883-8209921b8da5.jpg?v=1701180873"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/just-us-cover_6e502a64-d9c2-4f6a-9883-8209921b8da5.jpg?v=1701180873"],"featured_image":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/just-us-cover_6e502a64-d9c2-4f6a-9883-8209921b8da5.jpg?v=1701180873","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":31882750951661,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.285,"height":467,"width":600,"src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/just-us-cover_6e502a64-d9c2-4f6a-9883-8209921b8da5.jpg?v=1701180873"},"aspect_ratio":1.285,"height":467,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/just-us-cover_6e502a64-d9c2-4f6a-9883-8209921b8da5.jpg?v=1701180873","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/molly-beth-griffin\"\u003eMolly Beth Griffin\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/anait-semirdzhyan\"\u003eAnait Semirdzhyan\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow can it be the holidays if everyone isn't together?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne year, a storm prevents all the relatives from coming to visit for the holidays. No Grandma, no aunts, no uncles, no cousins. No fun! This family will have to adapt their traditions to versions that can be done on a smaller scale—a simpler stew dinner, a hike in the snow, and a game of cards instead of rowdy charades. Navigating disappointment with mindfulness and gratitude, the family pieces together a holiday full of new traditions, while still acknowledging that it's okay to miss the old ones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/archie-celebrates-diwali\"\u003eArchie Celebrates Diwali\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/latkes-and-applesauce\"\u003eLatkes and Applesauce\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/samis-special-gift\"\u003eSami's Special Gift\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/gingerbread-dreidels\"\u003eGingerbread Dreidels\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n[TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/just-us-spread.jpg?v=1701180378\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/just-us-cover.jpg?v=1701180378\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/just-us-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1701180379\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/just-us-activity-kit.pdf?v=1710776597\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Activity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMolly Beth Griffin, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMolly Beth Griffin is a graduate of Hamline University's MFA program in writing for children and young adults and a writing teacher at the Loft Literary Center in the Twin Cities. She is the author of \u003cem\u003eTen Beautiful Things, Loon Baby, \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e Silhouette of a Sparrow.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/molly-beth-griffin\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Molly Beth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnait Semirdzhyan, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnait Semirdzhyan has a passion for illustrating children's books. She is the illustrator of several picture books such as \u003cem\u003eBábo: A Tale of Armenian Rug-Washing Day, The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale,\u003c\/em\u003e and\u003cem\u003e The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story.\u003c\/em\u003e She lives in Seattle with her husband and twin daughters. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/anait-semirdzhyan\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Anait.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eCCBC Choices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAfter a snowstorm snarls travel, a family of four explores new ways to celebrate, “just us,” in Griffin’s emotionally aware story. With opening first-person lines, a youthful speaker describes the jubilant festivities that take place every year with extended family, portrayed with pale skin, including a “big, big dinner, everybody together,” “charades, loud and rowdy,” and three kinds of pie. In the absence of these traditions, the narrating child and a sibling, led by Mom and Mama, fill the day with cozy activities—cooking stew, hiking through the snow, playing a card game—that each prove enjoyable in their own way. When pent-up disappointment results in an understandable emotional outburst, the foursome loops in Grandma virtually for a “sweet” ending. Semirdzhyan’s scribbly-lined drawings create animated narrative scenes that capture the range of sentiments suggested by the story’s focuses on togetherness and adaptability. An apple crisp recipe concludes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHoliday traditions can be a source of great comfort and fun. Conversely, a sudden disruption feels challenging to anyone, especially to young children. The little narrator of this story is used to having a full house for the holidays, replete with lots of food, loud games, and, of course, Grandma’s pies. Disappointingly, a surprise snowstorm prevents her grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and their pets from coming, so the rambunctious family event becomes “Just Mom, Mama, my brother, and me.” Nevertheless, the little family gamely makes the best of the changed circumstances, cooking a pot of stew instead of a feast, going for a snowy hike, playing cards, and, with grandma’s virtual help, whipping up some apple crisp instead of pie. Ultimately, they realize that something different can still feel special. Semirdzhyan’s illustrations effectively alternate vignettes and spreads, with an almost sketch-like style lovingly capturing the domestic warmth of both extended and nuclear families. A recipe for Grandma’s Apple Crisp is included in the back.\nVERDICT A charming, cozy tale that emphasizes the importance of family and flexibility in holiday celebrations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCCBC Choices\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEvery year during the winter holidays, the young narrator’s Grandma flies in to visit, and her aunts and uncles arrive at her house by car with all the cousins. “Every year we play charades, loud and rowdy. Then we light a fire in the fireplace and eat Grandma’s three kinds of pie. That’s what happens every year. It’s tradition.” This year a huge snowstorm disrupts travel plans and it’s just her immediate family members (all are white): Mom, Mama, her brother and her. “Would it even feel like the holidays with just us?” Mom directs them in making stew in the slow cooker (no turkey from Aunt Sarah), and Mama leads them on a hike through the glittering snowy landscape. There aren’t enough people for charades after dinner, but they play cards. “It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t rowdy. But it was kind of fun anyway ...” Still, when it’s time for the fire and dessert, the narrator’s lingering disappointment brims over—no pie! A video call to grandma, in which she talks them through making apple crisp, is the perfect salve. “It was just us, but it still felt special.” This entertaining, relatable, emotionally honest story is full of delight in the details while illuminating ways disappointment can sometimes make space for unexpected pleasure, and even new traditions. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-443-0\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 3–7\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e11 x 8\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: August 27, 2024\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e"}

By: Molly Beth Griffin / Illustrated by: Anait Semirdzhyan

How can it be the holidays if everyone isn't together?

One year, a storm prevents all the relatives from coming to visit for the holidays. No Grandma, no aunts, no uncles, no cousins. No fun! This family will have to adapt their traditions to versions that can be done on a smaller scale—a simpler stew dinner, a hike in the snow, and a game of cards instead of rowdy charades. Navigating disappointment with mindfulness and gratitude, the family pieces together a holiday full of new traditions, while still acknowledging that it's okay to miss the old ones.

Maximum quantity available reached.

Molly Beth Griffin, author

Molly Beth Griffin is a graduate of Hamline University's MFA program in writing for children and young adults and a writing teacher at the Loft Literary Center in the Twin Cities. She is the author of Ten Beautiful Things, Loon Baby, and Silhouette of a Sparrow.

Read more about Molly Beth.


Anait Semirdzhyan, illustrator

Anait Semirdzhyan has a passion for illustrating children's books. She is the illustrator of several picture books such as Bábo: A Tale of Armenian Rug-Washing Day, The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale, and The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story. She lives in Seattle with her husband and twin daughters.

Read more about Anait.

  • A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection
  • CCBC Choices

Publishers Weekly

After a snowstorm snarls travel, a family of four explores new ways to celebrate, “just us,” in Griffin’s emotionally aware story. With opening first-person lines, a youthful speaker describes the jubilant festivities that take place every year with extended family, portrayed with pale skin, including a “big, big dinner, everybody together,” “charades, loud and rowdy,” and three kinds of pie. In the absence of these traditions, the narrating child and a sibling, led by Mom and Mama, fill the day with cozy activities—cooking stew, hiking through the snow, playing a card game—that each prove enjoyable in their own way. When pent-up disappointment results in an understandable emotional outburst, the foursome loops in Grandma virtually for a “sweet” ending. Semirdzhyan’s scribbly-lined drawings create animated narrative scenes that capture the range of sentiments suggested by the story’s focuses on togetherness and adaptability. An apple crisp recipe concludes.

School Library Journal

Holiday traditions can be a source of great comfort and fun. Conversely, a sudden disruption feels challenging to anyone, especially to young children. The little narrator of this story is used to having a full house for the holidays, replete with lots of food, loud games, and, of course, Grandma’s pies. Disappointingly, a surprise snowstorm prevents her grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and their pets from coming, so the rambunctious family event becomes “Just Mom, Mama, my brother, and me.” Nevertheless, the little family gamely makes the best of the changed circumstances, cooking a pot of stew instead of a feast, going for a snowy hike, playing cards, and, with grandma’s virtual help, whipping up some apple crisp instead of pie. Ultimately, they realize that something different can still feel special. Semirdzhyan’s illustrations effectively alternate vignettes and spreads, with an almost sketch-like style lovingly capturing the domestic warmth of both extended and nuclear families. A recipe for Grandma’s Apple Crisp is included in the back. VERDICT A charming, cozy tale that emphasizes the importance of family and flexibility in holiday celebrations.

CCBC Choices

Every year during the winter holidays, the young narrator’s Grandma flies in to visit, and her aunts and uncles arrive at her house by car with all the cousins. “Every year we play charades, loud and rowdy. Then we light a fire in the fireplace and eat Grandma’s three kinds of pie. That’s what happens every year. It’s tradition.” This year a huge snowstorm disrupts travel plans and it’s just her immediate family members (all are white): Mom, Mama, her brother and her. “Would it even feel like the holidays with just us?” Mom directs them in making stew in the slow cooker (no turkey from Aunt Sarah), and Mama leads them on a hike through the glittering snowy landscape. There aren’t enough people for charades after dinner, but they play cards. “It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t rowdy. But it was kind of fun anyway ...” Still, when it’s time for the fire and dessert, the narrator’s lingering disappointment brims over—no pie! A video call to grandma, in which she talks them through making apple crisp, is the perfect salve. “It was just us, but it still felt special.” This entertaining, relatable, emotionally honest story is full of delight in the details while illuminating ways disappointment can sometimes make space for unexpected pleasure, and even new traditions.

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-443-0

Ages: 3–7
Page count: 32
11 x 81/2

Publication date: August 27, 2024