Bottled Sunshine — Andrea Spalding

A touching story about loss and the lasting comfort of memories

Grandma_s magical island is the perfect place for a holiday. The trouble is, when the summer is over, Sammy doesn_t want to leave. Grandma has a plan for their last day together - they are going to make the best batch of bottled sunshine anyone ever saw. After one last excursion together to find the biggest, juiciest blackberries on the island, Sammy helps his Grandma make jam. Why does she call it _bottled sunshine_? Sammy doesn_t really know, but the warm jars of jam do seem to glow, all right. When Sammy returns home, he puts a jar of the bottled sunshine on his shelf and promptly forgets about it.

Sammy_s magical holiday with Grandma is to be his last. The following winter, Grandma dies and Sammy is inconsolable. But as his mother comforts him, Sammy begins to think back about his time with his beloved Grandma, and he suddenly remembers the jar of jam. He takes it down from the shelf and opens the lid. As the scent of blackberries fill the kitchen, memories wash over Sammy. And eagerly he shares Grandma_s last gift with his mom.

A touching story about loss and the lasting comfort of memories, Bottled Sunshine is for any child who has lost a cherished grandparent. Author Andrea Spalding_s subtle and moving text is beautifully balanced by artist Ruth Ohi_s gentle and understated illustrations. This is a book for parents and children to read together.