Grandma Lives in a Perfume Village

"Grandma Lives in a Perfume Village This book is by a prolific Taiwanese author, and both she and the illustrator have won multiple awards. Unlike the other picture books featured, all of which are by Chinese illustrators, this one is illustrated by a German artist. Danowski’s work has a detailed and realistic style with wide appeal. Grandma Lives in a Perfume Village has two parts. First we have the last day that little Xiao Le spends with his grandmother (at the time he doesn’t know that he will not see her again, but readers understand that she is very ill). Xiao Le hasn’t seen Grandma for a while, and at first he is fearful of her frailty, but she wins his confidence and they have some lovely moments together. In the second half of the story, Xiao Le and his mother are coping with their loss. They agree that Grandma has probably gone to heaven and talk about whether it is like her old home in Perfume Village. This is a sad but warm story which can help young children understand that death is a part of life, and that memories we have of our loved ones continue to bring us comfort after they are gone."