This book was used as a read aloud for a fifth grade class. We stopped often to discuss some very adult questions/themes/issues. Where was the parents? Why wouldn't they answer the door? Why were the children taken away from home? Why was Bebe reluctant to see Aunt Gracie?
Did the children realize they were neglected? How do you know? There is a lot to unpack here, and the book will promote empathy through both beautiful writing and illustrations. ( )

A beautiful story of two kids who are sent to their aunts house because of their mothers absence. A great book to have in Primary classrooms that shows students that all families look a little different. ( )

I loved this book!! BB and Johnson are waiting alone for days for their mom to come home. They know their mom will come back eventually because she always does. Ms. Roy sees that their mom left them alone and says that they have to come with her because they can't stay there alone. She finds their Aunt Gracie, who the children have not seen in years, and she takes BB and Johnson to stay there for a while. The mom comes back and realizes that they were moved to her sister's house. She explains to BB and Johnson that she loves them but needs to go away for a while, so they'll be happy at Aunt Gracie's until she's ready to come back.

This book is absolutely amazing. It should be recommended to all children who have been removed from their homes due to neglect and placed in a foster home or relative placement. It is so realistic, including the drastically different emotions that the two children go through. I love how the mother is still placed in a positive light, as someone who loves her children but just isn't able to take care of them all the time, which is the case in many families. This book is so touching and portrays children facing neglect and the fear of moving into a relative's home, especially one that is unfamiliar to them. ( )

I have always loved Jacqueline Woodson's books. There's something about them that keeps you guessing and asking "what is next?" I really enjoyed this book too. It is a sweet story about two kids that end up moving in with their aunt because their mom is unable to take care of them. It isn't said what is wrong with her, but I assumed she was sick. The kids understand why they are living with their aunt (that they just met), and end up loving her. ( )

I am loving these books by Jacquline Woodson. Her words are real and she knows how to tug at our heartstrings. This book is about two siblings, their mom, and how mom is struggling to take care of herself and them. She disappears for days and the children seem all alone in the world. A nice social worker gets involved and brings the children to stay with their Aunt Gracie. Johnson seems receptive from the start but his big sister Beebee seems to need more time to warm up to Aunt Gracie. The children miss their mom. After some time with Aunt Gracie, the social worker picks the children up to visit momma. Momma tells the children that she needs help and can not care for them so they will stay with Gracie Aunt in the meantime. The children are sad to leave momma again but are grateful for aunt Gracie. The children are reunited with their aunt and they receive lots of love.

After reading this book, I wonder many things. Will momma ever get it together? Will the children ever be reunited with her? How will Aunt Gracie take it if she ever has to return the children to her sister? Jacquline Woodson always has us thinking after reading her books and I really enjoy that about her writing. ( )