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Memory Jars

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Memory Jars
Written and Illustrated by: Vera Brosgol
Roaring Brook Press, 2021. Picture Book.

Freda is visiting her grandmother and helping her pick blueberries. Freda tries to eat as many blueberries as she can because she doesn't want to loose any but sadly, she discovers she can't eat them all. When her Grandmother tells her they can save the blueberries they don't eat by putting them in a jar, Freda is relieved.  This idea  sparks something in Freda and she decides she is going to save all of her favorite things in jars. But what Freda finds out is that you can't enjoy everything that is saved in a jar because some things are better saved as memories. 

This quirky story adds humor and charm as it touches on the idea of keeping memories, people, or favorite items bottled up in a jar. The story is told from a child's perspective and hints at the idea that everything you love can be kept forever in a safe place. Gouache illustrations bring Freda's world alive with bright happy colors but when the story takes a different turn the illustrations convey the darkness and gloom of unhappiness. Text and pictures pair well together to show Freda's change of heart and the use of color and detail add to the overall feeling of the story. 
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