Zuni and the Memory Jar

May 20, 2024
A family’s way of reflecting on the year encourages Zuni, youngest of three, to make memories in this sunny tale. When Mama arrives home with a big glass jar, she explains that it will hold items associated with special moments. As Zuni’s family adds mementos from their achievements—a winning soccer goal, a successful piano recital—Zuni is told that “someday”
her moment will come, too. When the jar is opened, it reveals each individual’s recollections—and the way Zuni has made the most of notable everyday events. Saeed’s slice-of-life-oriented text highlights each signpost, while Rawat’s digital illustrations capture Zuni’s no less significant contributions alongside those of her family. An author’s note concludes. Zuni’s family cues as being of South Asian heritage. Ages 4–8.

June 1, 2024
Grades K-3 One day, Zuni's mother brings home a glass jar to begin a collection of memories--mementos of the accomplishments of family members. As time goes on, everyone in Zuni's family adds a memory of a special moment: a winning goal, a blue ribbon, a piano recital. It appears Zuni is surrounded by overachievers, and while her "winning moment" seems to be taking its time, she is not discouraged. Everyone assures her that her time will come, and it does. When the family gathers over tea and cakes to pore over their jar memories, Zuni shares her own contributions: helping out, playing with friends, rescuing a lion. Zuni's memories are different from those of her family members, and the message of the book is that even ordinary moments are worthy of remembering. An author's note adds a personal touch, reiterating this sentiment. Charming illustrations provide expression and visual details. Teachers and parents might be inspired to create their own versions of memory jars for children to collect special moments in time.

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Starred review from July 1, 2024
A young girl of South Asian descent and her family collect treasured memories. When Mama comes home with an empty jar, Zuni imagines filling it with cookies. But this jar is meant for something even more special: memories. When Zuni's brother Adam scores a winning goal for his soccer team, he puts a photo of the triumphant moment in the jar. Then Zuni's sister Sophie gives a well-received piano performance, and their grandmother's quilt wins a blue ribbon in a local competition. Mementos of these events go in the jar alongside the ribbon Mama earns for completing a Turkey Trot race. But what about Zuni? Throughout the year, her family reassures her that she, too, will soon earn achievements worthy of the jar. It isn't until they review their memories that the family opens the jar and realizes that, unbeknownst to them, Zuni has been making her own memories from bits and pieces of life her elders were too busy to notice, value, or understand. Zuni's story is expertly paced, elegantly written, and perfectly plotted. The book's clever twist is supported by subtle clues in the upbeat cartoon illustrations. Perhaps the most impressive part of the story is its message--while it's important to mark big achievements, Saeed encourages children and their families to see everyday moments as extraordinary, too. A superbly original picture book that celebrates memories big and small. (Picture book. 3-8)

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June 21, 2024

PreS-Gr 2-Saeed (The Together Tree) and Rawat (Masala Chai) team up for a sweet picture book about appreciating the small things that one day become big things. Zuni's family has a memory jar for special notes and photos about important events. It's where her older brother Adam places a photo of his game-winning goal from soccer and her older sister Sophie puts the program from her piano recital, but Zuni doesn't have anything to offer. After Nani places a blue ribbon from her prize-winning quilt in the jar, she says "Just watch, Zuni Zoo! Someday you'll have ribbons, too." Rawat's beautiful illustrations show Zuni busily drawing in her notebook, and when it's time to open the jar on December 31, Zuni reveals her notebook full of her own memories from each of the special events already noted in the jar including serving water at her mother's race and stopping a soccer ball while playing with friends during her brother's game. The colorful artwork and detail in Zuni's facial expressions help spread the joyful lesson. Author's note includes information on how their family uses a similar jar. VERDICT A first purchase: this heartwarming picture book will remind young readers that it's sometimes life's little moments that mean the most, and classrooms may want to have their own jars for memorable moments in a school year.-Carrie Voliva

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