Life Is Beautiful

Starred review from September 1, 2024
A loving matriarch shows her family how to appreciate the good times as she navigates the end of a life well lived. Bingham tells another heartfelt, intergenerational story centered on a Black family. Granny Dee "lives in the heart of Harlem" but crosses town--"on three trains and one bus"--to spend weekends with her beloved granddaughter. Whether taking day trips throughout the city or painting each other's nails, the two delight in every moment together. That is until one weekend when Granny Dee doesn't arrive. "She's getting too old for the trains and buses," Momma says. Daughter and granddaughter visit Granny Dee at her home, where it becomes obvious that she's readying herself for a transition from this world, informed by her Christian faith. "Earth is a rented space," she tells her granddaughter. "Heaven is home." Depictions of the family's loving memories echo Granny Dee's words of wisdom. Her maxim--"Everybody should enjoy life. Life is beautiful"--is a final, bittersweet remembrance as the old woman takes her final breaths; readers are left with a reminder that holding on to happy moments with loved ones can help them sit with grief. Mendoza's carefully composed images of urban scenes, subway rides, and loving moments have a pleasing retro vibe; she infuses her art with animated shapes and lines that pulse with energy--a perfect encapsulation of Granny Dee's sage words. A soul-stirring opportunity for joyful reflection while preparing for one of life's hardest yet most ever-present realities.(Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 18, 2024
Grades K-3 Missy loves her Granny Dee, who lives on the other side of the city, in Harlem. On weekends, Granny Dee takes three trains and a bus to visit. They love spending time together, watching TV, taking bubble baths, painting their nails, drinking with fancy straws, and eating out. As Granny Dee says often, "Everybody should enjoy life. Life is beautiful." One weekend, much to Missy's disappointment, Granny Dee fails to come over, as "she getting too old for the trains and buses." Missy and her mom travel out to Granny Dee's home, where Granny Dee lies in bed with a nurse by her side. As the weeks go by, Granny Dee stays in bed until her last breath. Missy and her mom carry on Granny Dee's outlook on life by continuing the weekend traditions Granny Dee and Missy used to share. The vibrant illustrations, heavily featuring pastel tones, create a retro feel. Whimsical shapes such as bubbles and swirls capture urban scenes and intimate moments in eye-catching spreads. A tender story about finding beauty and joy even during times of loss.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from August 19, 2024
Every Saturday, Granny Dee, who lives “in the heart of Harlem,” takes three trains and one bus across the city to visit her granddaughter. “You don’t live that far, Missy,” she says about the trip, citing the travel to “my favorite grandbaby” as “a reason to get out. A reason to live life. And life is beautiful.” Each week, writes Bingham (The Walk) in tender, action-oriented prose, the two enjoy activities including painting nails, slurping “Spritey-Kool-Aid” through elaborately swirled straws, and “eating our way through the city.” When Granny Dee doesn’t arrive one weekend, Missy persuades Momma to take the “one train and one bus and two more trains” themselves, reversing the journey—and the moments of care—until Granny Dee “lets her last breath escape into the air.” Radiant digital art from Mendoza (Jovita Wore Pants) highlights the importance of enjoying every moment in this emotionally buoyant testament to enduring intergenerational love. A final spread exhibits the way Granny Dee’s beliefs remain in the world after her homegoing services, as Missy and Momma find a way to employ Granny Dee’s mode of enjoying life. Ages up to 8.

December 6, 2024

Gr 2-4-In first-person narration, a young girl describes the joyous times she spends with Granny Dee in Harlem. The young narrator and her mother briefly mourn when Granny Dee becomes ill, but after her death, here called a "homegoing," they celebrate her life. The story is tender and lacks sentimentality. It is text heavy, so young readers will likely need to share this book with a trusted adult. However, the vivacious artwork perfectly complements the book's tone, and the story would stand on its own separate from the text. Pinks, teals, and yellows mirror and convey the mood, with the sadness accented in dark blue. The city is depicted with as much love as the characters and every spread is a masterpiece of composition and color. VERDICT A substantial addition to any collection, especially those dealing with tough topics.-Chance Lee Joyner

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