If All the World Were
by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Allison Colpoys
Interest age: 0 to 5
Published by Lincoln Children’s Books, 2018
About this book
This beautiful story tells the love that one little girl has for her ageing grandad. They spend each season having fun together but she knows he is not well. One day he isn’t there anymore, but the little girl finds evidence of their happy times together. She knows she has memories and imagination enough to keep her grandad alive and she remembers him smiling and laughing.
A touching and sensitive text that doesn’t dwell on the sadness. There are some lovely lines that are really memorable: ‘If all the world were springtime, I would replant my grandad’s birthdays so that he would never get old.’ The bright colours and wonderfully painterly illustrations are also lively and vivid.
A lovely book that could really bring comfort to the whole family.
See some illustrations from the book
About the author
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Lists of recommended reads
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BookTrust Storytime Prize: previously shortlisted books
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Mixed families
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