Grandmother’s Visit

Grandmother’s Visit tells the story of a little girl and her relationship with her grandmother in both life and in death. In this intergenerational family that lives together, the grandmother walks the girl to school each day, teaches her to make rice, and tells stories of her life growing up in China. But one day the grandmother stops taking her to school, and her parents are always whispering to each other. The girl’s grandmother dies a few days later. Her mother tells the girl that some Chinese people believe the house lights should be on so the spirit of the dead person can find the way back home. That night, the little girl listens, remembering all the joyful sounds, stories, and laughter of her grandmother; she also hears something else… the jingle of her grandmother’s key. When she enters her grandmother’s empty room, she finds her grandmother’s key inside her photo album marking a photograph of her grandmother holding her as a baby. Her grandmother had visited her to say goodbye.

Quan writes in simple and gentle prose, but the writing is rich and evoking:

Grandmother is always savoring the flavors of her childhood. I like her stories. They taste salty and sweet, like the pickled plums Grandmother hides in her pockets.

The sensitive topic of death is tenderly approached for children. Mok’s illustrations in muted hues of greens, grays, browns, and splashes of orange complement the narrative beautifully. The pictures capture the sadness and emotions when experiencing the death of a loved one, but also the joyous good memories between grandmother, grandchild and her curious cat.

Grandmother’s Visit would be a good selection for parents and guardians looking to find a book about the death of a grandparent. There is much for parents and children to discuss about love, dying, death, and traditions, both during and after a reading of the book. Because of the sensitive subject matter, I recommend that Grandmother’s Visit be read with parental guidance for children 8 and under; children 12 and under would still enjoy and benefit from this book.