{"id":36404,"date":"2019-07-26T22:07:30","date_gmt":"2019-07-27T02:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36404"},"modified":"2019-07-26T22:07:30","modified_gmt":"2019-07-27T02:07:30","slug":"review-of-maybe-tomorrow-by-charlotte-agell-illustrated-by-ana-ramirez-gonzalez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36404","title":{"rendered":"Review of Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agell, illustrated by Ana Ram\u00edrez Gonz\u00e1lez"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Maybe Tomorrow?<\/em><\/p>\n

by Charlotte Agell
\nillustrated by Ana Ram\u00edrez Gonz\u00e1lez<\/p>\n

Scholastic Press, 2019. 40 pages.
\nStarred Review
\nReview written July 5, 2019, from a library book<\/p>\n

Oh, this is a wonderful, joyous, and tender book about grief and about sharing burdens in friendship. I wish I could show the bright and joyful pictures. The editor here did the perfect match of illustrator to words.<\/p>\n

Elba is a pink hippo-like creature (reminds me of a Moomin) with downcast eyes and Norris is a crocodile who walks upright. They live in a bright, springlike landscape. Here\u2019s how the book begins:<\/p>\n

Elba had a big block.
\nShe\u2019d been dragging it around for a long time.<\/p>\n

It made her walk slowly.
\nIt made her think darkly.
\nIt was heavy.<\/p>\n

Norris danced everywhere he went, even uphill.<\/p>\n

One day, Elba was sitting on her block in the park, like she usually did.<\/p>\n

Along came Norris in a cloud of butterflies.
\nAt first Elba couldn\u2019t see him in all that shininess.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Norris tries to get Elba to go on a picnic with him, but she wants to sit on her block, like she usually does. (The block is the one dark thing in the pictures.)<\/p>\n

Norris stays and talks with Elba. He feels something sad in the block that wants to come out, but they don\u2019t know how. By the end of the day, they say, \u201cMaybe tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next day, it\u2019s raining, and Norris brings tea to Elba. \u201cThey had good, quiet tea with rain in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next day, Norris shows up again.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow didn\u2019t come, but another today did.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s really time,\u201d said Norris, \u201cbecause I want you to come to the ocean with me.\u201d
\n\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll just take my block,\u201d said Elba, surprising herself.
\n\u201cBut it\u2019s too heavy,\u201d she added. \u201cRight?\u201d
\n\u201cMy butterflies and I will help you,\u201d said Norris.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Indeed, the butterflies carry the block for Elba, slowly, all the way to the ocean. We learn what\u2019s causing Elba\u2019s sorrow as she tells about her friend Little Bird, whom she misses so much.<\/p>\n

And after that, Elba\u2019s block is smaller and lighter.<\/p>\n

I hope I\u2019m not giving too much away, and you really do need to read this book yourself, but I especially love this page at almost the end:<\/p>\n

Together they stood and faced the roaring sea.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll always have this block, you know,\u201d said Elba.
\n\u201cYes, maybe you will,\u201d said Norris.
\n\u201cBut I will help you carry it sometimes.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One lovely thing about this book is that you don\u2019t have to be an Elba to appreciate it. If you\u2019re a Norris, you can learn from his sweet, listening spirit, and his generosity with his butterflies.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a friendship story and works as a friendship story. If there\u2019s a big dark block of grief in your life, it will resonate all the more, but you don\u2019t need that to love this book.<\/p>\n

charlotteagell.com<\/a>
\nscholastic.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/maybe_tomorrow.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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