Just Us

by Molly Griffin, Anait Semirdzhyan (illustrator)

How can it be the holidays if everyone isn't together? Relevent and relatable, Just Us will provide comfort and warm hearts at a time of the year when maybe it's needed most.What happens when a storm prevents all the relatives from coming in for the holidays? No Grandma, no aunts, no uncles, no cousins. No fun!The family will have to adapt their traditions to versions that can be done on a smaller scale--from a more manageable stew dinner, a hike in the snow, or a game of cards instead of rowdy charades. Navagating disappointment with mindfulness and gratitude, the family pieces together a holiday full of new traditions, while still acknowledging that it's okay to miss the old ones.

Genres: Picture Books, LGBT, Family, Childrens, Holiday, Christmas, Love

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 27, 2024

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The love of family glows in these pages. In the traditions, foods, and togetherness. Readers will see and feel the warmth and love whether it’s the entire family or “just us”.

This warm hug of a story is about a little family celebrating a holiday in new ways when a snow storm alters the usual family get-together. The words peaceful and soft come to mind instantly. And warm! The warmth is in the stew, crackling fire, and smiles.

Perfect story for the upcoming holiday season.

Recommended. Check it out at your local library.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous story. This is technically a Thanksgiving story, but it could be for any time of year. When family traditions are upset, whether by snowstorms or other factors, it can be difficult to keep going with a new tradition or think of alternative things to do. This story is a great story about how one family decides to make the best of an unfortunate situation and make their holiday great. It shows kids (and adults) that, even in tough times or times of change, we can overcome and find positivity.

The whole family usually gets together for Thanksgiving. But not this year. All the cousins and uncles and aunts come. Not this year. Grandma comes too and bakes three pies. Nope. None of them can come because there is a huge snowstorm! The family is very sad, but they decide to do some new things this year. They have fun, but they’re still a little sad. And that’s okay! This book teaches us we don’t need to always solve our feelings. Sometimes it’s best if we let them play in the background, acknowledging them while we try to do our very best!


Mia’s Year of Books: Day 269

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Us, written by Molly Beth Griffin, is a sweet holiday story. This book is told from the point of view of a child, who lives with their brother and two moms. Every year they have a big holiday celebration at their house, with their family, Grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins. But this year there is a big snow storm that causes travel problems and leaves the family alone for the holiday. They try to make the best of it, and create new traditions, but sometimes that can be hard.
I really enjoyed this story. I feel like it would have been one that I would have enjoyed as a child too! I loved the illustrations and the traditions that were shared, and the recipe at the end of the book. Thank you to NetGalley, and to the author, illustrator, and publisher of this book for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Katherine McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really sweet story about traditions and family, and discovering new traditions along the way.

Every year things are special for the holidays. Grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins come. There’s delicious food and dessert and fun games.

When the snow came this holiday, grandmas flight was cancelled and the rest of the family couldn’t drive in the weather. Such a a disappointment!

But they make the best of it and make stew, explore in the snow, play cards and then make an apple crisp!

I love the importance of family and traditions, but when plans change it’s so sweet to see a family come together and try something new. It can be special, even if it’s different!

[Joey Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Charlesbridge and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Two children have a holiday tradition every year, their grandma comes with three pies, their cousins and aunts and uncles come, where they eat a big feast and play charades. This year a huge snow storm stops them all from coming so the children’s mom and mama have to help create new traditions for just them.

What a sweet story, changing your yearly traditions is really hard to adjust too and I loved that this book showed that it was hard for the little girl, I also liked seeing how their parents did everything they could to still make it a fun day with new traditions they could do in situations like that.

The illustrations were really lovely to look at, I really enjoyed this story myself, it’s a great story for the holiday season it will help show children that though a tradition may change for many reasons, you can still have fun as a smaller family and create new ones.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a big snow storms messes up all the relatives’ travel plans, two kids and their mothers must try to make the best of the holidays without the normal traditions.

Whether because of illness or weather, I think everyone at some point experiences missing out on family traditional celebrations. I wish the book had talked a bit more about processing the disappointment, but it moves pretty quickly and there wasn’t really space for that. It does talk about how some new traditions could be good too. The specific winter holidays are not named, making this open to interpretation.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: Unclear, mostly white American appearances, but some could be partly Asian or Hispanic.
LGBTQ+ content: The family has 2 moms.
Other: Emotional disappointment.

[Emma Filbrun · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the premise of this story. When the extended family can’t come to celebrate holidays, the immediate family makes the best of it and creates their own memories. I was startled, however, as I was reading the story to my children, to realize that this is a story about a family with two mothers. Had I known about that, I would not have chosen to read the book. The pictures are lovely and gentle, and I like the way the children connect with their grandmother through a video call when they can’t be with her in person. I like the way food is used to draw a family together—but I can’t agree with the style of family portrayed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A young girl's family usually celebrates the holidays by having extended family come from all over to share a meal and play games. However, the snow made it too dangerous for everyone to visit. Her mom, mama, and brother decided to improvise and prepare a meal together. They even called Grandma for advice on how to make a dessert.

Comments: The digitally created illustrations showed details of all of the relatives. Many young readers may wonder what to do if traditions cannot be kept. This story shares how we can still have a good holiday by making the best of what we have.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Charlesbridge through NetGalley.
Holiday traditions are important but what happens when a blizzard comes and no one can get there to celebrate. Griffin offers a look at how this family of four adapt and create new traditions to celebrate Christmas when extended family can't come. The illustrations capture the details including the characters' emotions as the story unfolds. I love the positive attitude from both moms even though they had to be disappointed also.

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

This sweet book is all about how to deal with disappointment during the holidays. Snow has made it impossible for family to come visit this home, but they make the best of it and even started some new traditions. I love the ingenuity of the family and reminds me of how we made do during the COVID pandemic when it was unsafe for families to visit. Lastly, this is a great story that is and is not about LGBTQ parents and how they love and teach their children how to cope with disappointment in the same ways as non-LGBTQ parents.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very cute book about how one family's holiday plans were thwarted by snow, and while disappointed they make do with what they have to make the holiday special even if it wasn't their usual traditions. Big family gatherings are the hallmark of holidays and those plans do sometimes fall through so this would be the perfect book to help children understand that it can still be fun when it's different. Bonus points for LGBT+ representation and the recipe for Grandma's apple crisp (yum!)

[Hailey Villafuerte · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, there is a snow storm that storms family from being able to make it to the main characters house for the holiday. Instead of traditional family dinner they have, they cook as a family and writes letters to their cousins who they are missing. I would use this book for an SEL lesson by letting them know that it's okay to feel disappointment or sadness. However, it also shows them to be flexible and to problem solve.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a clever and unusual take on a holiday turn for plenty of families--having to forgo (for one reason or another) a larger family gathering. a holiday can still be meaningful, can still incorporate older traditions while celebrating activities better suited for "just us."

the illustrations are beautiful, accessible, warm.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disappointment at snow canceling an annual family gathering's big dinner, two moms and their two kids make their own holiday tradition, just for the four of them. A cozy answer to disappointment, the lovely text is perfectly complimented with winsome illustrations by Anait Semirdzhyan. A holiday book to treasure.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

About an unspecified winter holiday that looks different from normal due to a storm that prevented family from arriving. The nuclear family finds ways to celebrate together and enjoy each other's company. They're still a little sad about what's different, but they find ways to connect with out-of-town family, too (making crisp with their grandmother on video call).

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story perfect for a festive read-aloud focusing on family and traditions. When a snow storm changes holiday plans, a family of four must find new ways of celebrating, creating new memories and honoring old ones.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet book about a holiday that isn’t the norm, but still ends up being warm and wonderful.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about how to handle disappointment and make new family traditions

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a family that's tradition gets sidelines because of the weather. But they rally and learn to see the positives of being together. It's a holiday story filled with heart.

[K.C. Norton]

Especially relevant in a “post”-Covid world. Love the casual use of Mom and Mama with no other commentary. I can see why this was up for a Lammy. 🥰