Before, Now - by Daniel Salmieri (Hardcover)

About the Book

Ava's life is depicted through a series of opposites as she transitions from girlhood to grandmotherhood, showcasing the constancy of family connections across generations.

Book Synopsis

Follow the story of a child from babyhood to parenthood in this moving book about family connections, time, and opposites--a lyrical classic in the making from the acclaimed illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Dragons Love Tacos.

Ava's world is full of opposites: colorful sneakers on a gray sidewalk, thick books made up of thin sheets of paper, and dreams of huge spaces in her small head. Together, these opposites depict a full and impactful life, as Ava moves from girl to student to scientist, from daughter to mother to grandmother. While years pass and some things change, there is even more that is constant in this visually rich, soothing portrait of family connection through the generations.

You'll want to cozy up and read this touching, beautiful book together with the children in your life. And as a celebration of personal and family milestones, it's a perfect gift for baby showers and graduations.

Review Quotes

A New York Times/New York Public Library Ten Best Illustrated Books Winner

★ "Employing a quiet, unadorned narrative voice and softly burnished colored pencil illustrations, Salmieri muses about how life is made up of paradoxes and opposites. . . This intergenerational portrait slowly suggests the way moments can provide anchors and recur--it's a 'whoa' kind of idea pitched at just the right level for the target audience." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Salmieri delivers a moving intergenerational story using opposites as its central conceit . . . [with] an immensely satisfying, full-circle conclusion." --Horn Book, starred review

"A series of moments, mundane and meaningful, capture the wonder of a life well lived . . . This play between text and illustration will engage young readers, while the journey through familiar beats of life is sure to tug at caretakers' heartstrings . . . This meditation on the patterns of life shines with reminders of what we carry with us as we grow." --Kirkus

"The colored-pencil-on-paper artwork employs a full palette of mostly muted hues displayed on richly textured full-page spreads. A satisfying look at a life well lived." --Booklist

★ "The story is simple yet profound, connecting elements of nature, city life, park walks, and scenes where human empathy develops as we grow with the image of a dog hoping to be adopted. It is ideal for engaging with children for a sensory story time at the emotional and age-appropriate intellectual level. A biography-like picture book that invites children to feel, sense, and respond to textual clues." --School Library Journal, starred review

About the Author

Daniel Salmieri is the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of Dragons Love Tacos and numerous other picture books, and the author/illustrator of the critically acclaimed Bear and Wolf. His editorial illustrations can be seen in The New Yorker and The New York Times. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and young son.