I MISS YOU MOST

A child learns to cope with loss.

In rhyming text, a young narrator yearns for a recently departed grandparent, whose absence is felt in small, day-to-day moments: “I miss you most at dinner / when seafood stew is served. // I miss you in the ocean waves / that crash and splash and swerve.” Dark, muted colors and empty spaces emphasize the child’s grief and loneliness on each two-page spread. In time, with support from the rest of the family, the protagonist focuses on ways to remember the grandparent: “I see you in the mirror / through the sparkle of my smile.” “You’re with me in the twists and turns / of stories that I write.” “But most of all I feel you / in each kindness I return.” Gradually, the child finds comfort in cherished memories; clearly, this beloved grandparent has helped shape the young narrator’s life—and continues to do so. Cheng and Yan make an impressive team. Cheng’s lyrical text creates sensory snapshots that add richness and depth to this intergenerational bond, bolstered by Yan’s beautiful, softly textured digital illustrations, which make effective use of color to capture the protagonist’s feelings. Together, their storytelling packs a powerful emotional punch. The family at the center of this story is cued as Chinese.

Warm and heartfelt.