by Azam Mahdavi
Illustrated by Maryam Tahmasebi
Translated by Parisa Saranj
Lee & Low Books
48 pages
2023
ISBN: 9781643796222
Originally published in Iran, Empty and Me is the story of a little girl dealing with her mother's death. When her mother dies, the girl turns to Empty, her constant companion and only friend. Empty goes everywhere with the little girl: to school, to the playground, and at home. Empty is shown as a huge
The girl remembers her mother when she sees a photo of them together, potting a plant. Later, the plant blooms and the girl begins to see things a little brighter. She finds a small kitten and she and Empty take it home. Now the kitten and Empty and the girl are together. Soon, she plays with another child at school.
Illustrations match the girl's journey throughout her grief: in the beginning, gray is the main color. After the plant blooms, the girl gives Empty a yellow flower. In the pages that follow, Empty is seen with more and more yellow flowers. In the final layout, a picture of the girl, her father, the kitten and Empty are bathed in yellow sunlight coming in from a window.
The text is in Persian with the English translation below it on each page. Young readers may have never experienced a bilingual book before, especially one in Persian and English. The Persian text offers a novel nuance of the print American readers may have not encountered and it adds to the beauty of the pages.
Empty and Me is that rare book that deals with a painful subject in a graceful, poignant manner. Empty is the silent, sweet companion the little girl needs throughout her grief and hopeful healing.
This book is must have read which is the perfect opening for young children to ask questions about death, dying and loss. While the subject matter is dark, Empty and Me is a testament to bright.
Ages 3 and up. Especially helpful for anyone who has lost a close relative or parent.
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