The Lines on Nana's Face Hardcover – October 11, 2016 by Simona Ciraolo (Illustrator)

It’s Nana’s birthday, and her little granddaughter wonders why she looks so worried! But the lines on her face are simply wrinkles, and Nana is very fond of them because they are where she keeps her memories.
In this imaginative and charming story, Simona Ciraolo turns the lines from old age into wrinkles of wonder and memory as a little girl learns all about the precious moments in her grandma’s life

 It's granny's birthday, but her little granddaughter wonders why, because of the lines on her face, she looks so worried! But they are simply wrinkles, and grandma is very fond of her lines because they are where she keeps her memories.
In this imaginative and charming story, Simona Ciraolo turns the lines from old age into little wrinkles of wonder and memory as a little girl learns all about the precious moments in her grandma's life.
Simona Ciraolo is a Sardinian born author and illustrator whose witty and endearing tales recently won her the Sebastian Walker Award.

The story is told from the perspective of a young girl, Nana’s grandaughter, as she asks her Nana about the lines on her face. These are the sort of questions that only young children can get away with and the kind that will usually only be entertained by doting grandparents.

Nana explains that the lines in her face are where she keeps her memories; a lovely way to look at wrinkles, tangible reminders of the most emotional experiences that shape a life. Nana shares her memories with her grandaughter as she ponders each individual line and for each one she gives a short but intriguing explanation which is brought to life with full page illustrations.

Further words are not needed to accompany these memories, the pictures speak for themselves and they provide such wonderful talking points. The pages of this book are simply bursting with emotions and real feelings that will entice any reader, young or old, to stop, study them and imagine the stories behind them.

The illustrations are fabulous, warm and full of meaningful details. Simona Ciraolo is incredibly talented at capturing true emotion and human expression in her characters. She has managed to portray both the innocence of youth and the wisdom of old age perfectly. I particularly love Nana’s eyes, they are so real, so thoughtful, so caring.

I also want to take a moment to appreciate the end papers in this book, a gorgeous collection of Nana’s trinkets and photos in gorgeous shades of pink…

I am a huge fan of books about grandparents, I cry every time I read Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies. Consequently, I adore this book! The unconditional love and admiration between grandparent and grandchild is clear to see. It is a true treasure, a sentimental and beautiful book that is perfect for children and adults to enjoy.