Review: Ella & Mrs Gooseberry

Author: Vikki Conley

Illustrator: Penelope Pratley

Category: Picture Book

Publisher: EK Books

Publication date: 2019

Blurb: Grumpy old Mrs Gooseberry from next door has lost her love.
‘I didn’t know you could lose love,’ says Ella.
So begins Ella’s quest to find out what love looks like, and how she can help Mrs Gooseberry rediscover it.

A story of kindness, community and the way love can warm our hearts.

Review: When I was a Guide, part of the community service for one of my badges was to spend time in a nursing home. Much of that time was spent with a woman who had dementia. Most of the time she didn’t even know I was there, but I remember the staff telling me that she had no family and no visitors. Reading Ella and Mrs Gooseberry reminded me of the hours I spent with this lonely old lady.

Ella and Mrs Gooseberry is a lovely story about Ella and her lonely neighbour.

After finding out that Mrs Gooseberry has lost her husband, her love, Ella goes about finding out what love looks like in an effort to help Mrs Gooseberry be happy. Ella asks her mother and other special people in her life what love looks like, getting a lovely insight into what different people think love looks like, and making a picture for herself.

This is a wonderful story to explain love to children, as well as encouraging them to get to know their elderly neighbours and others in their community.

Website: www.vikkiconley.com

Website: www.penelopesnest.com

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, EK Books