The Suitcase - by Daniela Sosa (Hardcover)

About the Book

"While spending the summer with his grandparents, who never do anything fun, a boy finds a suitcase filled with photos of people on the coolest adventures, but who could they be?"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

"A sweet, welcome reminder to kids that the adults in their lives were kids once too" --Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

From the author of Friends comes a tender picture book about a boy who gets a new perspective on his grandparents after uncovering an attic of treasures and a suitcase of mysterious photos while staying with them for the summer.

When a boy goes to visit his grandparents in the summer, it isn't long before he gets bored. Every day is the same, and there's nothing to do except reading and gardening like his grandparents, which the boy thinks is dull and not fun at all. Then he goes exploring and finds a suitcase in the attic filled with incredible things, including pictures that show a young couple exploring the world, having fun adventures, and dancing and singing. Who could they be?

Review Quotes

A summer vacation turns from dull to exciting.

A young tot with rosy cheeks and a scribble of brown hair is visiting Grandma and Grandpa one summer. The days are long, and the routine never seems to change. The youngster wishes for a mystery to solve to break up the monotony. With help from a feline friend, the child finds an old suitcase in the dusty attic. Inside are strange and ancient relics: photographs of an unknown but adventurous couple, ticket stubs, mementos, and the most mysterious item of all--a small rectangular piece of plastic labeled "Pink Floyd" ("not sure what this is...some sort of spying equipment?"). "Could Grandma and Grandpa know anything about this suitcase?" The curious narrator decides to do some investigating. But close inspection of the duo over the next few days doesn't reveal anything--or does it? Eagle-eyed readers will spot clues that the distracted narrator misses. Still, not all kids have yet come to the realization that the elders they love once lived very different lives; the big reveal just might be a surprise to many. Sepia tones and other deep colorings lend warmth and comfort to this familial tale, which will have readers eagerly scouring old photo albums and delving deep into their own family history. The characters have lightly tanned skin.

A heartwarming bridge between young and old. (Picture book. 4-7)

--Kirkus Reviews "3/15/2024"

A young boy's desperation for something to make a summer spent at his grandparents' home more exciting fuels his search for a mystery to solve in this picture book. After plenty of exploring, he finds a suitcase full of old pictures, medals, and even a cassette tape that belonged to an adventurous, musical couple who seem way more interesting than his grandparents, if he could only figure out who they are. Kids will have fun unlocking this mystery as they examine the clearly labeled clues as well as the other clues sprinkled throughout the illustrated scenes of the boy's grandparents visiting the farmers market or examining a bicycle built for two. Adults will appreciate the attention to detail on things like the box of records referencing some iconic album covers, and readers of all ages will be charmed by the silent but emotive cat who accompanies the boy on his fact-finding mission. --Booklist "5/1/24"

A young boy is bored at his grandparents' house over summer vacation, and his grandparents are a constant snooze fest, reading long books ("without pictures") and taking photos of birds. The boy looks in every nook and cranny of their house for something to do and comes upon a suitcase full of pictures and memorabilia of a young couple dancing and going on adventures together. He embarks on a quest to solve the mystery of who this interesting couple could be and why his grandparents have their suitcase. The irreverent tone delightfully gives a wink and nod at young viewers, as they recognize the truth about the couple far sooner than the boy does. The discordance between the boys' impression of his grandparents and their current actions makes a clever setup: as Grandma sprays Grandpa with a garden hose, the boy claims that "they never do anything fun," and as he goes through the suitcase, he labels an old Pink Floyd cassette tape as "some kind of spying equipment." Charcoal and ink illustrations in greens, blues, browns, and pinks offer plenty of background details for viewers to pick up on through multiple read-throughs in addition to adding nuance to the grandparents' rich history with each other. This is a sweet, welcome reminder to kids that the adults in their lives were kids once too, and that the concept of "fun" can take many forms for different people. NB--STAR
BCCB "5/1/24"

About the Author

Daniela Sosa is the author-illustrator of Friends and Giant Parsnip Soup. Originally from Romania, she now resides in Cambridge, England. She is a graduate of the children's book illustrations master's course at the Cambridge School of Art. When she isn't drawing, she enjoys nature walks and crafty projects. Learn more at DanielaSosa.com.