Crow Call (by Lois Lowry)

The tenderness of this story will have special appeal to someone whose parent has been away for a while, though all readers will find it touching. The story is based on one from acclaimed author Lois Lowry's own life, and its sentiments seem very real.  The author does a masterful job of showing the development of the father-daughter relationship throughout the day, as through each small step they get closer and closer.  And, the artwork does a spectacular job of bringing a nostalgic tone to the pages as well as showing the changing emotions.

Using watercolor and acryl-gouache on paper, the artist has created nostalgic golden-gray scenes that look friendly and somewhat reminiscent of Andrew Wyeth paintings. In fact, he has dedicated his work to Wyeth, which seems quite appropriate. The full two-page spreads of the father and daughter walking through the woods on a slightly overcast and misty morning are especially breathtaking in their silence and sensitivity.