I loved this book. All aspects of this story were simple yet complex which I really like. For being a picture book the content was at a 5th or 6th grade level or even higher. I really liked the language used throughout the story, it was clear and patterned with a touch of rhyming which made it really interesting to read. For example, "Once Tom's darling sewed a greatcoat, and she buttoned it with brass. She stitched each seem with tenderness and lined it with her love. Once she prayed to heaven above." I also really loved the illustrations in this book, I think that they enhance the story and they fit the mood being portrayed in the story. All of the images are very fitting for what is happening in the story, even the tragic parts of the story have fitting illustrations which I think really help to make this story so great. I think the main idea of this story is to show that life does have hardships but we can overcome it and still have a hope for good and peace. ( )

Beautiful, tragic, and profoundly moving. ( )