I don't often give five stars, but I really believe this is one that shouldn't be missed. The language is so evocative and the poetry is often so beautiful that it really is a joy to read. 
 I'm not sure how much this book is really for children, though. I think it may well be one that we think they should love, but in fact they might not. Much of what is presented as memory is unlikely to actually come from memory, and more readily from family history, so the quality of memoir at times feels strained to an adult reader. For a child reader, this may come across as boring or heavy handed. But if you are an adult reader of children's lit, make sure to put this gem on your radar.