________________ CM . . . . Volume XX Number 24. . . .February 21, 2014

cover

Linger.

Marny Duncan-Cary. Illustrated by Megan Mansbridge.
Regina, SK: Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing, 2006.
32 pp., pbk., $12.95.
ISBN 978-1-894431-10-1.

Adult.

Review by Kay Weisman.

** /4

   

excerpt:

Leaves in the valley are turnin’, school bells are ringin’ again.
Armed with her backpack and brand new school supplies,
My baby turns and waves good-bye.

The bells have all gone and the schoolyard’s empty
And I’m standing here all alone.
I really should go,
I’ve got so much to do, I know.
I’m just not ready to leave.

I’m going to linger a little longer.
I want to hold onto the past.
Let me linger a little longer …
I never thought you’d grow up so fast.

 

Singer/songwriter Duncan-Cary finds herself bereft when her youngest child starts school. She follows her daughter’s bus, watches her on the playground, and then lingers, crying once school begins. After peeking into the classroom window to make sure her daughter is okay, she pens this song, reflecting on her sadness about the situation.

internal art     Megan Mansbridge’s mixed media illustrations, inspired by the landscapes of the Qu’Appelle Valley, are particularly appealing. She combines natural materials with paint and collage to great effect, and readers will no doubt linger over this artwork long after finishing the text. Unfortunately, Duncan-Cary’s message speaks primarily to needy, helicopter parents who are having trouble separating from their school aged children. The child’s perspective is basically ignored, although by all indications this child is perfectly accepting of this rite of passage. Mom, on the other hand, sobs, spies, and mopes. Appended with guitar chords and music, fans of this singer/songwriter may appreciate this offering; for kids it’s more likely to create a problem where none exists.

Recommended with reservations.

Kay Weisman, a long time librarian and reviewer, now writes “Information Matters” for School Library Monthly and works as a youth librarian at West Vancouver Memorial Library.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364
Hosted by the University of Manitoba.
 

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