Leighan Renaud (Author) & Elizabeth Lander (Illustrator)
While Zora waits for Grandma to return, she explores what it means to have a home away from home. This nostalgic love letter to Grenada is a joyful celebration of Caribbean culture and all the forms it has taken over generations. Join Zora on her journey through this heart-warming tale of love, family and home.
The first thing I love to do when I get a new picture book if flick through the pages to look at all the pictures I am about to enjoy, it gives me a real sense of the mood of the book and previews the delights I will be enjoying. Elizabeth Lander’s illustrations are warm, vibrant and lush. They lend the book a feel of summer, something to savour on a breezy November afternoon in the UK.
The story itelf, is poetic, and full of the love that the family have for each other. It takes us on a journey both through the day of a young girl but also across the island of Grenada, in all it’s verdant glory. We see villages, the beach, the hills and fruit trees that seem to cover the island and the colourful street market. The scenery is full of female characters, all of whom have a smile on their face, adding to the warmth of the story.
The hints to the culture of the island in both the words and the pictures bring the book to life and left me searching for gungo bean and breadfruit recipes. This is a delightful book, ideal for a cold day when you want to feel a bit of sunshine in your life, perhaps accompanied by pistachio ice-cream or some Grenadian pelau.
