A Gift of Feathers
Description
A picture book by Ken Schept and illustrated by Romina Galotta about the power of remembrance and intergenerational tradition.
When she finds a feather, Grandma Dot adds it to her collection. Feathers, she tells her two granddaughters, remind Grandma Dot of people she’s lost. At first, the girls see the feathers as fun to play with. But soon, Grandma Dot’s feathers take on larger meanings – of comfort, remembrance, and love.
This affectionate, hopeful story will inspire readers of all ages to make memories and traditions part of their own family stories.
About the Author
Ken Schept, a father and grandfather, wrote A Gift of Feathers, his debut children's book, following a successful career as a journalist and business writer. He received his MFA from Columbia University, and lives with his wife in Hoboken, NJ, where he now writes children’s books and literary fiction.
Romina Galotta is an illustrator, ardent animal lover, passionate foodie, and world traveler. She is also the artist for The Biggest Thing of All (Trigger/Upside Down).. She currently lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Praise for A Gift of Feathers
"This special picture book is filled with warmth and wisdom. It may help children process their grief and teach them to make their own traditions during hard times. From the sweet and detailed illustrations of the two sisters and their grandmother’s feather collection, to the author’s final note about his own experience with his mother’s death and a jar of feathers, readers will find great comfort in this book during times of need."--Jewish Book Council
"Found feathers become a source of solace for two siblings following the death of their beloved grandmother in this remembrance-focused picture book. ...Time at Grandma Dot’s apartment meant viewing the vases of special feathers that she collected as an act of memorial—“Every time I find a feather, I think about my parents watching over me,” she says. When Grandma Dot dies, Talula recounts the family’s experience mourning and reveals the special way that she and Rhea remember their grandmother with feathers of their own. Galotta’s ink, watercolor, and colored pencil art balances playful scenes of Grandma Dot and her family with grayscale images that convey a thoughtful, somber tone." —Publishers Weekly
"Though the narrative presents Jewish ways of mourning, both Jewish and non-Jewish readers can relate to the central concept of honoring those we cherish through our memories." —Sydney Taylor Schmooze