by Blessing Musariri
illustrated by Maisie Paradise Shearring
 
“Dad is gone but we’re the two flowers left and we still have each other”.
 
Shingai is miserable. There’s been far, far too many days of not flying like a rocket, not clomping about in big shoes and not going to the ice-cream shop. Far, far too many no-Dad days. And so, he cuts off flower heads, paints the houseplant leaves, stickers up everything. Mum looks on patiently untiL, one day, she too declares that she feels exactly the same. She starts to empty cereal boxes, tipping fruity holes and wheaty stars all over their house! Shingai is bewildered. But then, he “knew a brand-new thing”.
 
Subtitled, “A story of love and hope”, this picture book is honest in showing the pain of family loss/separation (it could be either) experienced by both children and adults, while also moving positively towards a shared understanding and renewed, mutual nurturing. Maisie’s typically soft-smudgy illustrations provide soothing and warm contours to the character’s emotional journeys. The final image of mum and Shingai sharing multiple-scoop ice creams in the garden is a treat.
  
 ‘Beautiful, colourful illustrations along with a lyrical and descriptive writing style which is not always seen in a picture book format for this age group… thoughtful while dealing with a difficult subject’ (Zoey, Library Manager, Letterbox Library reviewer). Mixed race family (Dad is white; mum is PoC). Age 4-7, Paperback 29pp
 
Themes: Diverse Families