...relatives

Sue's favorite time of day with me is story time, even though it precedes her least favorite time of the day, bedtime. Sue has hundreds of books. It is almost embarrassing the collection sitting on her shelves. A lot of them are tattered from too much love or little baby brother teeth and slobber, but we still cherish their stories.

One book in particular is close to both of our hearts, and we read it tonight: The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant. Sue loves it because of the pictures and funny things the child says. I love it because it explains exactly how I feel living far away from family.

It talks about when "those relatives" came for an extended stay during the summer. It is full of hugging, laughing, eating, sleeping and an obvious close, tight relationship. It makes me tear up every time the relatives go home in the book, missing each other already and knowing it will be too long before they are together again.

This is a perfect book to give a mother who misses her kids and grandchildren or a daughter like me who misses her mom and daddy.

11 comments

  1. I absolutely love this book, Avery does too. It's such a fun read, I need to buy a back up copy. Ours is getting lots of "love"!

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  2. I haven't read this since I was little, but I loved it. I think I should buy a copy for my son :)

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  3. I loved this book growing up! It is hard living away from family, isn't it? However, it does make those times when you are together that much sweeter! Thanks for the reminder... I think I will have to get it for Little Guy.

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  4. Awww I haven't read that book in years. I need to pick up a copy for my girls. It sure is hard living away from family.

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  5. I love Cynthia Rylant - I read this book to my students this year!

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  6. I agree - having mom and dad far away is hard... but it must be double hard for you having both sets away.
    At least we have each other. sniff sniff. :)

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  7. i love this book so much, the photos are priceless, so much happening, all the chaos and all the kids. it's the perfect family reunion book!

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  8. We love Cynthia Rylant books here.

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  9. So...I totally just bought 4 of these! Thanks. These will be great Christmas gifts for the gparents :)

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