In a Jar

by Deborah Marcero Narrated by Ralph Lister

Overview

Llewellyn, a little rabbit, is a collector. He gathers things in jars-ordinary things like buttercups, feathers, and heart-shaped stones. Then he meets another rabbit, Evelyn, and together they begin to collect extraordinary things-like rainbows, the sound of the ocean, and the wind just before snow falls. And, best of all, when they hold the jars and peer inside, they remember all the wonderful things they've seen and done. But one day, Evelyn has sad news: her family is moving away. How can the two friends continue their magical collection-and their special friendship-from afar?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A #1 Indie Bestseller
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A BookPage Best Book of the Year
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year

* "Readers will feel the warmth of friendship and the wonder of the world as well. Stunning." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "An enchanting examination of the pleasure reaped from cultivating imagination, friendship, and memory." —School Library Journal, starred review

* "Marcero works magic with prismatic watercolors, ink, and pencil, as her light-filled illustrations chronicle the young rabbits’ exploits and their appreciative wonder of the world around them . . . This joyful account of friendship will charm readers with the notion of capturing wind or a rainbow in a jar, but its deeper message of maintaining relationships over a distance will comfort those who have moved or know someone who has." —Booklist, starred review

* “In a Jar does what all the best picture books do: It captivates, entertains and leaves you with a reminder of magic still shimmering around the edges.” —BookPage, starred review

"Marcero provides a metaphor for the importance of capturing fleeting moments, and an image of a friendship that overcomes separation." —Publishers Weekly

"Cozy yet also endearingly offbeat. This could make an interesting partner to Denos’ Here and Now in a celebration of moments, or it could couple with Doerrfeld’s Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! for a discussion of how sharing feeds a friendship." —BCCB

"This is a book about friendship and how true bonds can transcend geographical distance. This is one to remember when a child experiences the unexpected departure of a friend." —School Library Connection

“Marcero uses delicate lines and vibrant colors to illustrate a tale of eccentricity and friendship . . . The details in Ms. Marcero’s beguiling pictures add a seek-and-find element to this tender story for children ages 3-7.” —The Wall Street Journal

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2019-09-29
Two rabbits collect shared memories in jars—visualizations of intangible moments that build their friendship and help sustain it when one moves away.

Llewellyn is a collector of rocks and feathers and other mundane items until he meets Evelyn. Together they experience a sensational sunset, which he scoops into a jar for her. The memory of that event softly glows like a night light in its jar, bringing warmth and comfort to her as she sleeps. The bunnies' jars soon become filled with experiential wonders: snowball fights and hot cocoa, exploring tulip-filled fields and playing until their shadows grow long at dusk. After Evelyn moves, it takes a glittering meteor shower for Llewelyn to realize the jars might allow them to continue to share their lives with each other. The illustrations feature simple, cartoonlike characters. But while the drawing style may be simplified, sophisticated patterning and color design, as well as intricate pen work, create a lush and detailed world. The artist moves between small inserted panels and large spreads to great effect, creating whimsical and uplifting art that perfectly matches the text. In the art, Marcero builds a visual vocabulary for the meaning and importance of memories. As Evelyn opens a jar and stars from Llewelyn's night sky swirl and fall around her, readers will feel the warmth of friendship and the wonder of the world as well.

Stunning. (Picture book. 4-8)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176243314
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	03/16/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	Up to 4 Years

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