Aunt Claire's Yellow Beehive Hair

"Whenever our whole family gets together for someone's birthday, or a holiday, or just for the fun of it, we share a big meal, then eat and eat desserts. After we're so stuffed we can't eat any more, the grown-ups push back their chairs from the table and talk and talk about the people I see only in old pictures." Annie wants to know all about her family, the ones who came before and are now gone; the family she sees only in pictures. "I want to reach into the past and bring them closer to me." So one rainy day, Grandma Marilyn and Great-Aunt Ray take Annie on a "memorabilia" hunt. They search through the house, in closets and drawers, shoe boxes and albums, and find pieces of family history, letters, passports, pressed flowers, pictures, war medals, hair ribbon, even wedding lace. Once it's all laid out on the big kitchen table, Grandma and Great-Aunt Ray begin their story. "Oh, Annie, that was Aunt Claire's purple hair ribbon. She had yellow beehive hair, sharp red painted nails, and a deep, throaty voice....." Deborah Blumenthal has written a lovely, warm, and captivating story that begs to be read aloud, and shared by the entire family. Her eloquent text is evocative and entertaining, and beautifully complemented by Mary Grandpre's bold, vibrant, and expressive illustrations. Together word and art paint a vivid and engaging portrait of all the intriguing and colorful characters that make each family unique and special. Perfect for youngsters 5 and older, Aunt Claire's Yellow Beehive Hair is a wonderful way to open discussions, begin to introduce your own family's history, and most importantly, keep it alive.

Mary GrandPre, of Harry Potter fame for illustrating both covers and inside spots, make this book stand out as a wonderful walk through the past. Annie searching to know more about her past learns a lot about her family from her Aunt. Ethereal visuals combined with Deborah Blumenthal's detailed story, the books plays out like a magically brilliant dream. In the end, children will enjoy looking at the stunning visuals, GrandPre showers with each page. A wonderful lap books for children who enjoy hearing stories about family and their past.