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Book Cover for: Zayde Comes to Live, Sheri Sinykin

Zayde Comes to Live

Sheri Sinykin

Recommended:Parents Choice Awards (Fall) (2008-Up) -Picture Book (2012)
Honor Book:Sydney Taylor Book Award -Younger Readers (2013)
In this touching, simple story, a young Jewish girl named Rachel tries to make peace with the impending death of her grandfather.

Rachel's grandfather, her Zayde, has come to live with her family. Though no one has told her, Rachel knows it is because he is dying, and she worries what will happen to him.

Her friends' religions offer her no solace, and although she gets some answers from her Rabbi about where Zayde may go, Rachel still can't imagine her own life without her grandfather in it. It is only when she realizes that Zayde will live on in the love and memories they share that she finally begins to find peace.

Author Sheri Sinykin's understated text and illustrator Kristina Swarner's beautiful illustrations combine to create a moving story about truth, love, and loss.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
  • Publish Date: Oct 2nd, 2012
  • Pages: 32
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 10.00in - 10.10in - 0.40in - 0.95lb
  • EAN: 9781561456314
  • Recommended age: 06-09
  • Categories: Social Themes - Death, Grief, BereavementFamily - MultigenerationalReligious - Jewish

About the Author

Sheri Sinykin was born in Chicago and grew up in Sacramento, California. She wanted to write children's books ever since third grade, but first she worked as a newspaper reporter, a hospital public relations director, and as the assistant executive director of a convention and visitors bureau. She holds degrees from Stanford University and Vermont College, where she received an MFA in writing for children. The author of picture books and middle grade and young adult novels, she lives in Massachusetts and Arizona.

Kristina Swarner decided to become an artist at the age of three and has been drawing ever since. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, she has create illustrations for books, posters, greeting cards, magazines, wine labels, CD covers, and theater posters, among other things. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Eric Carle Museum and the Society of Illustrators. She lives in Illinois.

Praise for this book

★ "There are many books that help a young child cope with death, but this is a particularly moving one. . . Although this reverberates with the beliefs of a particular religion, the emotions and message transcend."--Booklist, Starred Review

"The beautifully sensitive storytelling comforts readers by showing the inevitability of the circle of life in the context of strong family love. . . the emotions ring true universally. . . Pitch-perfect text and illustrations combine to create a story that will touch readers' hearts."--School Library Journal

"Sinykin does a commendable job of dispelling fear with empathy and tenderness through some very direct yet positive answers to a child's uncertainty. . . Though Rachel's quest takes place within a Jewish context, her emotions and situation are near universal, and this artful book handles both well."--Kirkus Reviews

★ "Sinykin hits just the right balance of communication and reassurance with her storytelling, as does Swarner with her endearing and soothing illustrations. Children will relate to Rachel's concerns and appreciate the comforting and positive messages relayed in a story that takes on a difficult and important subject."--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review