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Sarah and her little brother Joey live in a blue house with a large hill behind it where they often play. After school each day, Granny Brannigan, as they affectionately call her, greets Sarah and her friends, sharing cookies with the boys and girls. One day, Sarah visits Granny, who is not feeling well. She tells her all about the big hill in their backyard, and Brannigan shares with Sarah some packets of poppy seeds, encouraging her to plant them and see the beautiful colors which will eventually grow. When spring arrives, Sarah and Joey plant the seeds and water them. Before long, red, orange, white, and purple poppies begin to cover the hill. After a couple of days in which Mrs. Brannigan is not waiting by her gate, Sarah checks in on her and discovers she is not well. Sarah’s mom calls the ambulance, but Granny Brannigan has already passed away. The children decide to pay their respects by collecting the poppies and making a beautiful blanket for Granny over her grave. Hundreds of colorful little flowers decorate her resting place as a final sweet gesture.
This is a wonderful picture book to share with young children. Among the many lessons of character and caring that are shared is the notion of checking up on and taking care of our elderly neighbors. Furthermore, the simple joy Mrs. Brannigan provides by greeting the young friends daily on their way home from school leaves a smile on the reader’s face. Finally, the fact that the children themselves decide to do something special to pay their respects to their “Granny” when she passes away is not only thoughtful but also fitting and remarkable. Landkammer’s gentle and sweet book might also help young readers who are experiencing the death of a grandparent or loved one.