by Sophia N. Lee
Illustrated by Isabel Roxas
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division
2022
32 pages
ISBN: 9781534494459
A smart pick for diverse collections and teaching.
A young girl visits her Lola (grandmother) every summer, and Lola tells her, "If you want to hold on, you have to sing your songs." She shares her love of Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis, Jr. and especially her Tagalong songs from her favorite singers Nora Aurnor and Basil Valdez,
Summers and Lola's house is always filled with music and joy. The little girl loves visiting and dancing with Lola. They make their favorite foods together and Lola tells her stories of how she met her grandfather and how they danced in the street. The girl waits all year for summer to come, so she can be filled with songs again. Heartfelt illustrations by Isabel Roxas make you feel and hear the music escaping the pages of the book.
When Lola begins not to remember things so well, the girl holds on for her. She holds on to their favorite songs, singing them for Lola who then sings along. She repeats Lola's stories from the past, so Lola can remember them. She tells Lola it's okay to not remember sometimes. She'll remember for her. They sing and dance keeping music alive and "holding on" to each other.
Holding On is an important book about the love between a child and her grandmother. Dealing with age, the elderly, Alzheimers, love, acceptance and joy, Holding On should win awards this year.
Highly, highly recommended age 4 and up.
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