| Me and Mr Mah
By: Andrea Spalding When Ian moves
with his mother to the city, he misses his father, but finds an unexpected
friend in the old man next door. Gradually, they help each other with
their loneliness.
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"... an attractive and appealing story. With well-managed themes of
family change, relocation, and intergenerational and intercultural
friendship, it's worthy of space on home, school and libary
bookshelves." Quill and Quire. -
"poignant tale... Janet Wilson's illustrations are bright and full of
energy" -
"a brand new picture book that neatly bridges generations and
cultures... Janet Wilson's vivid paintings add life and colour to the
story. They fit perfectly with the text..." The -
"Andrea Spalding has an unerring touch with "life-changing
moment" stories... they are suffused by feeling but never tainted by
sentimentality. Adding warmth and colour are Janet Wilson's lushly
detailed backgrounds and wonderfully realized people. Mr Mah and the boy
all but walk out of the pages." City Parent -
"Canadian author Andrea Spalding's story nicely connects characters
from different generations and cultures." Ruminator Review - “Ian and
Mr. Mah are fully realized, recognizable presences on the page, and the
story deals with the ideas of separation and loss in a gentle but
understandable way that children will immediately grasp.” Booklist - “A quietly
meaningful story on how big the bridge of friendship can be” Kirkus
Reviews Ian's mother and father have divorced and Ian and his Mother have come to start a new life together in the city; A very different life from the prairie wheat farm where Ian grew up. Ian is lonely and peeks through the fence to find out who lives next door. He sees Mr Mah tending his vegetable garden. A heart- warming friendship grows between a lonely little boy and a lonely old man. They both share secrets with each other and help each other in a time of need. Janet Wilson's beautiful illustrations evoke the growing friendship in the midst of a lush and growing garden. Watch for the sunflower's life cycle. Andrea wrote this story after a fascinating walk in the historical Chinese Cemetery in Victoria BC, and a shopping trip to Victoria's Chinatown, which sparked a memory of an elderly Chinese friend who owned a "special lacquered box." Internet Links : The Web sites we have listed here will help you to learn more about the people and places in the book.
Review by Eva-Marie Kroller of "Canadian Literature" Freebies: |
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Copyright 1999-2007 Brandywine Enterprises B.C. Ltd., Canada email andrea@andreaspalding.com |
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