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Zuni and the Memory Jar
A joyful picture book about celebrating everyday moments of fun, beauty, and wonder, from New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed
Meet Zuni. She's sweet, silly, ever-so-charming, and full of bright ideas. Her family has a memory jar. Any time someone in the family does something important, they mark those moments through notes and photos stored in the jar and share those memories together at the end of the year.
Her parents tell Zuni that when she grows up she’ll have important memories to share, too, like graduations, and milestones, and trophies. But Zuni is already making memories! And at the end of the year, her family gets to see the moments that made an impact on little Zuni.
A deceptively simple story for young and old alike, Zuni and the Memory Jar is a reminder to celebrate everyday joys in life along with the grand achievements.
Meet Zuni. She's sweet, silly, ever-so-charming, and full of bright ideas. Her family has a memory jar. Any time someone in the family does something important, they mark those moments through notes and photos stored in the jar and share those memories together at the end of the year.
Her parents tell Zuni that when she grows up she’ll have important memories to share, too, like graduations, and milestones, and trophies. But Zuni is already making memories! And at the end of the year, her family gets to see the moments that made an impact on little Zuni.
A deceptively simple story for young and old alike, Zuni and the Memory Jar is a reminder to celebrate everyday joys in life along with the grand achievements.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published June 11, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 2, 2024
Meh...
April 29, 2024
This sweet story by a Muslim author contains nothing Islamic or any indication of the family's faith. It hints at desi cultural rep with "Nani" being used in the text, and in some of the illustrations the grandma wearing a dupatta, but the rest of the family has non identifying names of Adam and Sophie and Zuni and dresses in western style clothing.
The story is about a family saving mementos throughout the year in a jar to recall favorite memories when they open the jar together. At each event, the family remarks that Zuni shouldn't be sad, and that she too will have memories soon. Sophie's piano recital, Nani's winning quilt, Mama's race medal, lots of joy for the sweet family, but when they open the jar up, it is Zuni's memories that bring the biggest smiles to them all.
I read an early electronic version that had Flute recital in the text under program for the piano recital and reached out to the publisher to see if it was going to be corrected, but never heard back.
The story is about a family saving mementos throughout the year in a jar to recall favorite memories when they open the jar together. At each event, the family remarks that Zuni shouldn't be sad, and that she too will have memories soon. Sophie's piano recital, Nani's winning quilt, Mama's race medal, lots of joy for the sweet family, but when they open the jar up, it is Zuni's memories that bring the biggest smiles to them all.
I read an early electronic version that had Flute recital in the text under program for the piano recital and reached out to the publisher to see if it was going to be corrected, but never heard back.
April 21, 2024
This may be one of my favorite new picture books! Meet Zuni & her family as the create a memory jar to store all of their mementos & accomplishments throughout the year. Each member of Zuni's family has something to add to the jar, except Zuni, or so they think. Lyrical rhythmic text that we've come to love & know from Aisha Saeed paired with Neha Rawat's bright, beautiful illustrations make for a *chef's kiss* perfect read. Be sure to pay attention to the added foreshadowing Rawat's illustrations show - we loved paying closer attention on our second, third, & fourth reads to see what the other characters & Zuni were doing in the background! Very clever. Another Aisha Saeed story to add to our personal & nonprofit shelves.
Thank you to Edelweiss & Kokila Books for an advanced digital copy in exchange for our honest review.
Thank you to Edelweiss & Kokila Books for an advanced digital copy in exchange for our honest review.
June 30, 2024
In this story, Zuni and her family make a year-long memory jar. When each family places their memory in the jar, they reassure Zuni that it is alright if she has nothing to put in it. Little does her family know that Zuni has been drawing her activities all year and putting them in the jar. The illustrations in this book are pretty.
July 31, 2024
3.5
This book would pair really well with a family activity to decorate a memory collector jar or container. Could have grownups sign up for periodic reminders (using Remind) to add to the jar and then to open it up during the new year or new school year or whenever.
"A memory is a remembering of things big but sometimes small"
This book would pair really well with a family activity to decorate a memory collector jar or container. Could have grownups sign up for periodic reminders (using Remind) to add to the jar and then to open it up during the new year or new school year or whenever.
"A memory is a remembering of things big but sometimes small"
June 21, 2024
A great concept as a family project. As always vibrant and detailed illustrations
August 21, 2024
I love the idea of starting a memory jar as a family and then getting to relive all those memories together at the end of the year.
This would also be a fun thing to do in the classroom too.
This would also be a fun thing to do in the classroom too.
August 26, 2024
Unfortunately, I was expecting a little more from this one. I understand where Saeed was going with the story, but it didn't pack the intended punch.
September 9, 2024
Very sweet family story and would work great with a family program to craft your family's own memory jar. The illustrations are lovely and kind of pastel. Nothing groundbreaking, but very charming.
September 19, 2024
I felt bad for Zuni! Everyone in the family had a memory in the jar except for Zuni. The end of the book Zuni shares how small moments were special to her that weren't included in the jar.
September 20, 2024
Two stars for this nice idea of a family memory jar. Zero stars for the cookie cutter digital art.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews