The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins

Synopsis

This poignant tale tells of a woman residing in a nursing home who seems to live more in a world of memories than here in the present.
Although Miss Olivia is unable to respond and doesn't always seem to notice her family, daughter Angel and great-grandson Troy know better. Anything from a beautiful sunset to the mention of her porch swing-Troy's favorite place-can take her back into her past, from when she was just a little girl out on the farm with her papa or back to a recent birthday shared with her daughter. She can no longer do the things she used to do, but she's still their Momma Olivia.
Laminack treats a difficult topic with great care, giving voice to the seldom discussed tragedy of watching a loved one slip out of the present and into the past in terms children can understand. Bergum's delicate watercolors also give soft expression to the continuity of generations and the love that holds a family together during times of hardship. The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins was the result of a very special collaboration between author and illustrator.