בצד השני של העולם
כתבה: ליבי גליסון איירה: פריה בלקווד
Amy and Louis / By Libby Gleeson
Illustrations: Freya Blackwood
(Hebrew title: "Half A World Away")
Dear Parents,
Amy and Louis are best friends. They do everything together—play games, make up stories, build towers… until one day, Amy moves very far away —“half a world away.” This is a tender tale about friendship, about unbreakable bonds that survive distance, and about parting from and missing people we love.
As in water, face reflects face, so one person’s heart to her fellow” (Proverbs 27:19).
The bond between Amy and Louis is so strong that it can even span the enormous distance between them. “Amy and Louis” is a story about a deep bond between two people—a bond that transcends time and space. Life is filled with meeting and making friends, but also with changes and farewells. Yet the things that truly matter live on in our hearts and remain with us our whole life long.
Activities You Can Do at Home
Amy and Louis became friends because they were neighbors who enjoyed the same things, so when Amy moves far away, she’s faced with a big challenge. Talk with your children about how you manage to keep in touch with faraway friends and family. After you finish reading this story, your children might get in touch with people they miss: they could write or draw a letter to send them, or talk to them via phone or the Internet.
Amy and Louie don’t merely miss each other; they recall the things they used to do together. You might talk with your children about things we can do to help keep memories alive. If you have photos, letters, or other items that remind you of friends and shared experiences from your past, you could share them with your children.
Children are introduced to this book near the end of their kindergarten year. You could talk with your children about good-byes, transitions, and new beginnings. Maybe talk about the friends they’ve made in kindergarten and the things your children like to do with them. Your children could also draw pictures or write letters to give to a friend, teacher, or other staff member at the kindergarten, as a memento.
Have you ever traveled to a foreign country, “half a world away?” Do you, like Amy and Louis, have friends who live in a faraway land? Using a globe or an atlas, you could show your children the countries you’ve visited or the places where your friends and family live. You could also explain time differences, intercontinental travel, and much more. “Amy and Louis” is the final book in PJ Library’s list for the year. We hope you have enjoyed these books and send you our best wishes for a successful summer and transition to kindergarten and beyond. Please keep in touch!