Our Corner Grocery Store, by Joanne Schwartz, illustrated by Laura Beingessner
In many small neighbourhoods, there is a local store that is a hub of the community – a meeting place, a central dispatch for news, and a source for the little daily things that the residents need. This book centres around a little grocery store and deli just like that, run by Anna Maria’s Nonno and Nonna, her Italian grandparents, who carry everything from produce to pizza pans.
The concept of community is difficult for children to grasp, as they are often somewhat unaware of the larger world around them, but it is also important for them to learn about the ways in which people work and help each other. (It is part of the kindergarten curriculum!) We see this in great detail as Anna Maria helps her grandparents with little chores around the store throughout the day from opening, to stocking shelves, serving lunches, and finally closing up the shop, not to mention having a little bit of fun and enjoying a few perks along the way.
Anna Maria and her grands are an appealing trio, and the seemingly simple and folksy illustrations only add to their charm by offering lots of little details that make this a lovely book to peruse again at length, discussing the many things going on. While I often find this sort of nearly-non-fiction story book a bit too purpose-driven, I couldn’t help but find this one an interesting look into the life of a shopkeeper, and I like that it might make children and parents alike look twice at the small businesses around them. In an age of big box stores, what a lovely and much-needed reminder!
A career Children’s Librarian, the Book Fairy (a.k.a. kittenpie) has worked in library systems in both New York and Toronto, and delights in sharing favourite books with kids of all ages. Since she can’t help but force books on people, she’s thrilled to have another place to do it without creeping people out the way she does at the bookstore.
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