E.S. As the title implies Finn is having a temper tantrum. The cover shows a picture of a boy frowning with his blanket wrapped around him. Above his head are black scribbles. He is having a fit over a peach. He doesn’t like them today. The story continues as the tantrum escalates to thunder in the nursery and lightning in the kitchen. An earthquake even shakes the world. Finally all that commotion dies down. Finn is exhausted, hugs his mom and wants to eat the peaches. Any parent will remember being in this situation and feel the same “pain “that the parents in this book are feeling. They will also fondly recall the tantrum of a two year old when compared to their teenager. Children listening will laugh at the exaggerated illustrations. They won’t believe they ever acted like Finn during a fit!

 

E.S. This is a story of change in the family. It tells of how westward moving pioneers had to give up family ties in order to make a better life or participate in that great adventure. Lydia the main character does not want to move to Oregon without her grandmother and is finding it difficult to deal with the thought of losing her. Grandma is a wise woman and helps her find a way to accept the change. She lets her cry and writes down her stories in a journal for Lydia to take with her. The story brings a tear to your eye when grandma sends Lydia kisses on the wind as she embarks on her journey west. The reader knows they will never see each other again. Even though the setting is of long ago so much of what happens here can be applied to any change a family might be experiencing.