Note: I received a finished hardcover from the publisher at ALA Midwinter 2017. I also accessed a digital review copy through Edelweiss. ( )

A really heartwarming book. The fact that there are no words on the pages showing the memories is moving. The illustration told the story. I would have liked more memories or something else because it ended too soon, but otherwise this is a really special book. It almost feels like older people would connect with it more than children would.

A young girl is excited to celebrate her grandmother's birthday in this lovely picture-book, but worries that her beloved Nana isn't happy. Nana explains that the lines on her face might make it look that way, but in truth, those wrinkles each contain an important memory. In response to her granddaughter's questions about specific wrinkles, Nana shares some of the highlights of her life, concluding with one very special memory - the day she met her granddaughter!

With a heartwarming exploration of the loving bond between a grandparent and grandchild, and beautiful artwork that captures the changing emotional register of all of Nana's memories, The Lines on Nana's Face is an immensely accomplished picture-book from author/artist Simona Ciraolo. I appreciated the way that Ciraolo constructs her story, with her young narrator's initial misunderstanding of her Nana's facial expression giving way to a better understanding, once she learns a little more about her life, as I think it is fairly common for young children to be a little frightened and/or intimidated by the appearance of elderly people. Highly recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about young children and their grandparents, or about young people interacting with the elderly in general. ( )