Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
Categories
Children’s picture books

JUST WHAT TO DO

Hala Tahboub Kyle Lukoff

A tender picture book about grief and the many ways to offer comfort in sad times, from Newbery Honor-winner Kyle Lukoff.

When you see someone sad, it's only natural to want to cheer them up. But how? Some people like hugs but others don't. Sometimes a joke is more comforting than a card. How can you do the just-right-thing if you don't know what it is?

With its spare, poignant text and unexpectedly levitous illustrations, Just What to Do offers an important lesson about how to offer comfort to loved ones by setting aside your assumptions and following their lead.

Kyle Lukoff is the author of many books for young readers. His debut middle-grade novel, Too Bright To See, received a Newbery honor, the Stonewall award, and was a National Book Award finalist. His picture book When Aidan Became A Brother also won the Stonewall. He has forthcoming books about mermaids, babies, apologies, and lots of other topics. While becoming a writer he worked as a bookseller for ten years, and then nine more years as a school librarian.

Hala Tahboub is a children's book writer and illustrator. She started her creative journey as an architect and interior designer. She won the SCBWI Canada East chapter's Storyteller Award for Illustration in 2019, and she was the SCBWI's December Featured Illustrator in 2020. Hala believes in kindness, coffee, chocolate, and in the immense power of stories. She lives in Montreal.

Available products
Book Published 2024-07-16 by Dial
Book Published 2024-07-16 by Dial Books for Young Readers

Comments

[H]eartfelt... Tahboub contributes digitally created spreads and vignettes whose small-scale figures suggest sweet vulnerability throughout this work, which hints at people's different experiences of loss, and suggests that asking instead of assuming may open the door to deeper companionship.

Spain: PRH Spain

Handling death and grief in a gentle and tender manner, Lukoff's newest picture book explores the innate need many of us have to fix the problems of the ones we love the most... Combined with Tahboub's adorable and expressive illustrations, children will be newly tuned in to the many complexities of grief... A beautiful story that should be sitting on the shelves of school counselors and child therapists everywhere.

The text is quiet and spare, perfectly capturing a young child's thought process of moving through increasingly tricky emotional situations that aren't easy to prepare for, especially around grief and loss. The illustrations are equally minimal, with most scenes set against clean, white backgrounds, keeping the focus on the kid and the various grievers, while delicate, thin linework and watercolor-like textures maintain a soft, steady presence. The eruption of color in the detailed flower garland in the final scene feels cathartic, a moment of joy and remembrance and a celebration of memory and friendship. Keep this in mind for the empathetic kid who's trying to do right by a friend going through a rough time.

A simple yet poignant message of "seeking first to understand" before making assumptions

This tender and insightful picture book navigates the delicate subject of grief through the eyes of a young boy.Lukoff's narrative is sensitive, simple to grasp, and age appropriate on the nuances of offering emotional support while imparting a profound lesson in empathy through a simple storyline. The story highlights the importance of listening and being there for others as they navigate their emotions. Tahboub's illustrations, characterized by ample empty space, effectively highlight moments of connection and learning. Minimalist scenes ensure the focus remains on the characters and their emotions, facilitating a deeper understanding of the story's message.an integral part of a reader's journey to developing emotional intelligence and compassion at a young age.

Both Newbery Honoree Lukoff's text and Tahboub's illustrations convey a stillness that will make this often-difficult topic comprehensible to a young audience. With its emphasis on being there and listening to what people need in times of sorrow, this book is the perfect complement to Cori Doerrfeld's The Rabbit Listened. The ultimate message that there is no certainty when it comes to grief complements the minimalist art. A lesson here for adults and children alike.

This picture book perfectly captures grief's complexity in such a simple, straightforward way.