GREAT-UNCLE ALFRED FORGETS
by Ben Shecter & illustrated by Ben Shecter
A fragmentary conversation between Emily and Great-Uncle Alfred, who is increasingly forgetful; his questions and statements are sometimes funny, sometimes lyrical, sometimes philosophical, and sometimes saggy—the dialogue is a little too realistic in its stops and starts. A gentle little girl, Emily helps Great-Uncle Alfred find and put on his shoes, and they go out for a walk; he thinks it's Christmas, but it's really summer, and so on. Shecter (Sparrow Song, 1981, etc.) illustrates his text with a sequence of luminous paintings; everything in these pictures is heavy, rigidly immobile, encrusted in brilliant colors—and touchingly expressive. They fairly radiate with the affection between these two characters as they struggle to communicate. (Picture book. 4-8)