The Storyteller

* “Reality and stories blend in this tale of the bond between a boy and his grandmother. Griffin’s grandmother—referred to as the Storyteller—nurtures him with ‘milk, fresh-baked bread and all kinds of stories. Folktales, fairy tales, legends. And Griffin’s favorite—family lore.’ . . . Soft, realistic illustrations depict a retro-style house and village, with Griffin looking on at people and animals from famous tales, many tiny and doll-like: Rapunzel peering out of a tower-esque teapot, the protagonist of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ scaling a flower. Griffin and his grandmother are always together until the older woman weakens and begins to fade. . . . Following Jack’s lead, he sells his toy cow for magic beans (which resemble jellybeans) and grows an impressive beanstalk. Before his grandmother climbs it—a moving, inspired metaphor for her death—she leaves him with a few words: ‘Keep the stories alive, my love.’ Griffin, in due course, passes her words on to the next generation, re-creating the powerful cycle of keeping story alive. Brief but potent text is paired with illustrations that exude a sense of magic and the joy of storytelling. . . . Warmly and tenderly conveys the comfort of sharing the lore of days gone by.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review