Garmann's Summer

Author: Stian Hole
Age: 5+
Rating: 5/5

About: Summer is almost over which means that 6 year old Garmann will start school for the first time. But he's nervous and a little scared, and he still has all of his baby teeth. And like every summer, his three elderly Aunties are coming to visit. This year, Garmann wonders if they are afraid of anything?

Thoughts:

"Every year the aunts come for a few days,

bringing rheumatism, hernias, and almond tart." 

p. 2

I love the writing. Mostly simple sentences, which are perfect because the story is about a six year old and his ideas and wonderings. It has an interesting balance between jadedness or skepticism and innocence. Or maybe it is the balance between such a serious yet honest question in relation to the unique illustrations, but I thought it quite poetic.

This story was thoughtful and charming and interesting. Garmann asks two big questions like"what are you afraid of" and "are you afraid to die?" The answers that the Aunties and his parents give are all a little different, and while they make him feel better -he's still scared.
But that's okay -aren't we all?

I want to own this.