![]() When Tommy asks to be tied to a chair next to his great-grandmother, the imagery is particularly odd. ![]() The description of trips for ice cream with an uncle, watching the grandmothers comb their hair and precisely what was on the dresser are too disjointed to come entirely from his imagination. Written and drawn by one of my favorite illustrator’s, Tomie dePaola (the artist behind the children’s classic, Strega Nona ), the choice of Tommy’s name and some of the details are reminders that the story is autobiographical. “Died means that Nana Upstairs won’t be here anymore,” Mother answered. They bond over stories and mints in a sewing box until the day Tommy finds Nana Upstairs bed is empty. His great-grandmother, Nana Upstairs, is so frail she stays in bed and has to be tied to a chair to sit upright. Four-year-old Tommy visits his grandmother and great-grandmother every Sunday afternoon. Have you had a talk with your kids about death? This book is here to help. Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola ![]()
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