Before, Now

Daniel Salmieri author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Penguin Young Readers

Published:6th Jun '23

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Before, Now cover

Ava’s world is full of opposites: colourful sneakers on a gray sidewalk, thick books made up of thin sheets of paper, and dreams of huge spaces in her small head. Together, these opposites depict a full and impactful life, as Ava moves from girl to student to scientist, from daughter to mother to grandmother. While years pass and some things change, there is even more that is constant in this visually rich, soothing portrait of family connection through the generations. You’ll want to cosy up and read this touching, beautiful book together with the children in your life.

★ "Employing a quiet, unadorned narrative voice and softly burnished colored pencil illustrations, Salmieri muses about how life is made up of paradoxes and opposites.  . . This intergenerational portrait slowly suggests the way moments can provide anchors and recur—it’s a 'whoa' kind of idea pitched at just the right level for the target audience." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Salmieri delivers a moving intergenerational story using opposites as its central conceit . . . [with] an immensely satisfying, full-circle conclusion." —Horn Book, starred review

"A series of moments, mundane and meaningful, capture the wonder of a life well lived . . . This play between text and illustration will engage young readers, while the journey through familiar beats of life is sure to tug at caretakers’ heartstrings . . . This meditation on the patterns of life shines with reminders of what we carry with us as we grow." —Kirkus

"The colored-pencil-on-paper artwork employs a full palette of mostly muted hues displayed on richly textured full-page spreads. A satisfying look at a life well lived." —Booklist

★ "The story is simple yet profound, connecting elements of nature, city life, park walks, and scenes where human empathy develops as we grow with the image of a dog hoping to be adopted. It is ideal for engaging with children for a sensory story time at the emotional and age-appropriate intellectual level. A biography-like picture book that invites children to feel, sense, and respond to textual clues." —School Library Journal, starred review

ISBN: 9780593461976

Dimensions: 256mm x 257mm x 11mm

Weight: 498g

48 pages