Jewel's Story Book
Jewel adores her grandfather, and when she visits Mr. Evringham, ordinary moments become adventures. She delights in accompanying him to his office in a stone building, ascending in the elevator to mysterious heights, basking in the reflected glow of his importance. A special dinner in town awaits. Telephone conversations crackle with warmth. The housekeeper, Mrs. Forbes, watches these tender escapades unfold. Jewel's parents, recently returned from their own travels, figure into the background of this intimate portrait of a girl whose world is lit from within by love. There are no villains here, no urgent stakes, no dramatic conflicts to overcome. Instead, Burnham offers something rarer: a quiet celebration of familial tenderness and the way a child's capacity for wonder can transform the everyday into the extraordinary. Young readers will recognize themselves in Jewel's infectious joy. Adults may find themselves remembering their own first heroes.
