As an adult, one of my favorite books from the past year is Quiet by Tomie dePaola.
I remember hearing and reading (and loving) Tomie dePaola’s books when I was a child which was a long, long time ago, so I was kind of surprised to learn he is still writing and illustrating books. I began to read Quiet not knowing if his work would still hold the same magic that it did in my youth. If anything, I think I like this book more than I liked Strega Nona or his Book of Bible Stories.
Quiet follows a grandfather and two children as they step away from the hustle and bustle of their hectic lives and sit, paying attention to what they see and hear. They allow themselves to be in the moment rather than caught up in the craziness of their lives. The book is a gentle reminder for everyone that it’s healthy to step back from our often hectic lives and just be in the moment.
I recommend Quiet for ages 4 to 7.
Paul Rondema 