by Matt James

Norma misses her great-uncle Frank, but she is looking forward to his funeral. She’s excited for time off school and a chance to play with her favourite cousin, Ray.
And even though the day is full of things Norma doesn’t understand, she is sure of one thing: Uncle Frank would have liked his funeral.

This is a gentle and even joyful story about life and death, and how kids navigate the most serious of subjects.

Matt James is a painter, author/illustrator and musician whose many highly acclaimed children’s books include Yellow Moon, Apple Moon by Pamela Porter (New Mexico Book Award); I Know Here by Laurel Croza (Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award) and its companion volume, From There to Here; and The Stone Thrower by Jael Ealey Richardson. The Funeral is the first picture book he has written and illustrated.