Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Annelie Geissler
Categories
Children’s picture books

ZUNI AND THE MEMORY JAR

Neha Rawat Aisha Saeed

A joyful picture book about celebrating everyday moments of fun, beauty, and wonder, from New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed.

Meet Zuni. She's sweet, silly, ever-so-charming, and full of bright ideas. Her family has a memory jar. Any time someone in the family does something important, they mark those moments through notes and photos stored in the jar and share those memories together at the end of the year. Her parents tell Zuni that when she grows up she'll have important memories to share, too, like graduations, and milestones, and trophies. But Zuni is already making memories! And at the end of the year, her family gets to see the moments that made an impact on little Zuni. A deceptively simple story for young and old alike, Zuni and the Memory Jar is a reminder to celebrate everyday joys in life along with the grand achievements. Aisha Saeed's novels include the New York Times bestseller Amal Unbound, Written in the Stars, Yes No Maybe So (with Becky Albertalli), Diana and the Island of No Return, and Forty Words for Love, and picture books Bilal Cooks Daal and The Together Tree. She is a Pakistani American writer, teacher, and attorney. She has been featured on MTV, the Huffington Post, NBC and the BBC. As one of the founding members of the We Need Diverse Books campaign, she is helping change the conversation about representation in literature. Aisha lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and sons. Find her online at www.aishasaeed.com. Neha Rawat is an award-winning children's book illustrator from India. She spent a few years working as an engineer before her passion for art and visual storytelling led her to specialize in children's illustration. Neha can be found cuddling dogs, doing yoga, and hiking when not working in her studio. Visit Neha online at nrbstudio.in

Available products
Book Published 2024-06-11 by Kokila

Comments

A family's way of reflecting on the year encourages Zuni, youngest of three, to make memories in this sunny tale. When Mama arrives home with a big glass jar, she explains that it will hold items associated with special moments. As Zuni's family adds mementos from their achievements - a winning soccer goal, a successful piano recital - Zuni is told that "someday" her moment will come, too. When the jar is opened, it reveals each individual's recollections - and the way Zuni has made the most of notable everyday events. Saeed's slice-of-life-oriented text highlights each signpost, while Rawat's digital illustrations capture Zuni's no less significant contributions alongside those of her family. An author's note concludes. Zuni's family cues as being of South Asian heritage.

[T]he message of the book is that even ordinary moments are worthy of remembering. An author's note adds a personal touch, reiterating this sentiment. Charming illustrations provide expression and visual details. Teachers and parents might be inspired to create their own versions of memory jars for children to collect special moments in time.

Zuni's story is expertly paced, elegantly written, and perfectly plotted. The book's clever twist is supported by subtle clues in the upbeat cartoon illustrations. Perhaps the most impressive part of the story is its messagewhile it's important to mark big achievements, Saeed encourages children and their families to see everyday moments as extraordinary, too. A superbly original picture book that celebrates memories big and small.

Saeed (The Together Tree) and Rawat (Masala Chai) team up for a sweet picture book about appreciating the small things that one day become big things. The colorful artwork and detail in Zuni's facial expressions help spread the joyful lesson. Author's note includes information on how their family uses a similar jar. A first purchase: this heartwarming picture book will remind young readers that it's sometimes life's little moments that mean the most, and classrooms may want to have their own jars for memorable moments in a school year.