The story behind Small Things Mended by Casey Robinson is amusing. Or at least to me. I had asked for it via interlibrary loan and then forgot about it. It was not until the lady who works in that department of the library told me she was still looking for a copy that reminded me I had asked. And yes, it was worth the wait. Now, maybe it was not my favorite book of all time, but this book of friendship and grieving was cleverly done and had that ittle something that was cozy and thoughtful.
Cecil is a man with one good eye, but he can see how to help people who have “some small things” that need to be fixed. A pocket watch, a toy or pretty much anything. Now, he has neglected his garden in the meantime, (and we learn this when a special item comes to him). And it is when he takes a break from trying to fix the broken heart of a toy elephant that he realizes he has something that needs fixing too. It is just a nice story. Maybe it didn’t flow as smoothly as I would have liked, but the way it is presented is still good.
The publisher description says that Nancy Whitesides’s illustrations are “slightly tinted and painting like.” They are cozy, simple, but not lacking. There is a nice support system with the color and the little details that are given to the text. It would work best for ages five to seven or so, but slightly older readers can read it, while younger listeners can read the illustrations.