Tears in a Treasure Box, by Eleni McDermott

When Sam starts going to child care, he spends his day sitting next to the window waiting for his mother to come back. When she drops him off each day, he cries. Then Maria and Mummy come up with a surprise for Sam – a bright treasure box with reminders of home – a photo of Mummy, a little blanket and a tiny teddy bear – inside. When he plays with the treasure box Sam feels warm inside. Soon he grows used to child care and even enjoys his time there.

Tears in a Treasure Box is a story about separation anxiety and comes with a free booklet explaining this anxiety and strategies for dealing with it. The picture book is intended to help children beginning child care and also offers parents and carers an example of coping with this transition.

The use of minimal colour in the early illustrations to emphasise the grey mood of Sam is a nice technique, and highlights the bright colours of the treasure box and the mood it evokes. There are some minor grammatical errors in the text – it would be nice to see mummy given a capital ‘M’ and the word ‘too’ appears as ‘to’ in one sentence – but the intent of the book, to provide a positive message about child care, is met.

A useful tool for parents and for carers.

Tears in a Treasure Box, by Eleni McDermott, illustrated by Suzy Brown
Ages to Ages Publications, 2002

Company Information
Ages to Ages Publications provides quality picture books, adult workshops and articles that inspire, inform and enhance the quality of children’s relationships with significant adults. Find out more at www.ages2agespublications.com.

Cranky Granny, by Eleni McDermott

Cranky Granny
Shouts a lot.
My mummy says
She’s lost the plot.

Lily’s parents seem to think her grandmother is cranky and weird – even, perhaps, a nuisance. But Lily thinks differently. She and Granny share a special bond and Lily doesn’t mind that Granny is a little different – right down to her purple hair and loud ways.

Cranky Granny is a rhyming picture book written to encourage bonds between children and older adults. Youngsters will enjoy the repeated lines, which are a little like a chorus. They will be able to quickly remember these and join in as the book progresses.

Although the rhyme is at times a little forced, the story carries it, and the illustrations of Suzy Brown are fun and bright. The message of tolerance and of the importance of bonds between the generations is an important one.

A useful addition to the book is the inclusion of reading strategies at the back of the book, to encourage maximum benefit from the reading experience.

Cranky Granny is available directly from the publisher (see website information below).

Cranky Granny, by Eleni McDermott, illustrated by Suzy Brown
Ages to Ages Publications, 2003

Company Information

Ages to Ages Publications provides quality picture books, adult workshops and articles, that inspire, inform and enhance the quality of children’s relationships with significant adults. Find out more at www.ages2agespublications.com.