School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Moving to Oregon and away from her beloved grandmother saddens a young pioneer girl. While her mother and father pack their belongings in a covered wagon for the thousand-mile trip cross-country, Lydia hides in the barn. She is enticed outside by her grandmother and they spend time together remembering the past and planning how to make their separation easier for them both. Grandma has written down the stories she's told Lydia since she was a baby and gives her the small book so the child won't forget. "'Now you'll always be with me,' I said. 'And every day I will think of you and love you.' 'And I'll be loving you,' said Grandma." After making and sailing a bark boat, having her hair braided by her grandmother one last time, and sharing thoughts about leaving, the little girl and the older woman are ready to part. One last kiss on the wind as the wagon pulls away creates a bittersweet ending. Soft, pastel watercolor illustrations gently depict the close-knit family and the homestead in the vast countryside with rolling hills as a backdrop. This is a poignant tale about changing households and the universal emotions that accompany this stressful situation.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
This quiet tale examines the division of families and the ensuing sorrow brought about by westward expansion. While Lydia's family packs the wagon for their trip to Oregon, she longs to stay behind with her grandmother. Moser explores the nature of loss and fear of the unknown through Lydia and Grandma's conversations as they prepare to say goodbye. Contrary to the customary "chin up" attitude, this sympathetic story allows room for a child to grieve. Grandma counsels Lydia to "let those tears come," and only after that does she offer Lydia the tools to manage her sadness, which includes bringing along a memory book filled with Grandma's stories. Brown's muted watercolor illustrations complement the gentle theme of the tale. Her soft, pastel-hued paintings evoke a bygone era of calico dresses, sunbonnets, sweeping prairies and unpopulated landscapes. This soothing and wise tale holds universal appeal for any child coping with change. (Picture Book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Lydia and her pioneer parents are preparing to move to Oregon, and when the wagon is ready to go, Lydia can't bring herself to say good-bye to Grandma. After initially hiding, she does finally share farewells with her beloved relative and realizes that they will never truly be separated when they think of the other. Though the premise is sentimental, Moser and Brown tell a wise, gentle story about good-byes. Against the historical backdrop, the magnitude of the separation is evident; it is quite possible that Lydia will never see her grandmother again. Although Grandma lets Lydia know how much she will miss her, she never dwells on her own heartbreak but wisely directs Lydia's feelings toward the reassurance of her love. The fluid watercolors amplify the story's mood of transition, as Lydia and her family embark on a new life. A sweet story that finds stability in the midst of change.--Dean, Kara Copyright 2009 Booklist
