The Map of Good Memories

by Fran Nuño, Zuzanna Celej (Illustrations), Jon Brokenbrow (Translation)

There are places that remind us of happy moments. Zoe, a little girl who has to flee from her city with her family because of a war, remembers them before she leaves. She uses them to draw a “map of good memories,” knowing that they will always be with her.

Genres: Picture Books, War, Childrens, Family, Art, Contemporary, Maps

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Fran Nuño nació en Bilbao en 1973 y vive en Sevilla desde los diez meses de edad. Es escritor, dinamizador cultural y librero-editor.

Reviews

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful concept for a book! I saw it recommended on a blog post about picture books relating to math as it relates to shapes and spatial relationships. It makes you wonder: what would you include in your map? 7th grade social studies teachers on my middle school teams often started students off wtih the assignment to draw a "home to school map." It was a little disappointing at times to see how many struggled to do it; I wonder if Google Maps would make that easier now, or if we rely too much on the software. I did wish that the pictures had been a bit more vibrant, although it depicts memories of a land the protagonist had to leave behind.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is there anything that can not be mapped? In this book, a young girl about to leave the city of her birth, takes out a map of the city and marks on it all the places that hold a special memory for her. Before Google tracked the places you visited, this is the way to have done it. There's still something to be said for taking out a map of a location and noting the places of interest upon it.

[Jennifer B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have found a signed copy of this donated by the author at my local library. Also, it is printed on stone "paper", which is really cool, gives an interesting weight and texture to the pages.

It's a nice book, though bittersweet. The watercolor illustrations are lovely as well.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this states that it is about fleeing because of a war, I could see this being useful for military children to help them remember where they grew up and the things they loved about the cities they’ve lived in and had to leave, as well.

[Lin Lin]

War left her city deserted, but Zoe was able to draw a map of her hometown where each place is connected with good memories. The map she drew could be everyone's hometown, and we all have to move away from our hometown sometimes in life. The map helps us always remember a place with fond memories.

[Victoria Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations that accompany the themes of geography, current events and identity.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

1/11/18 Read with Naomi & Julia.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! I love that it comes in many different languages so people from all countries can relate.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When war forces Zoe and her family to leave their city, she draws a "map of good memories," so that they will always be with her. A simple, effective refugee story imported from Spain. An interesting production note: The publisher is a Certified B Corporation: No trees, no water and no bleach is used to create its books. Books are produced using stone paper.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story about Zoe who makes a map of all her favorite places when she must flee her home because of war and discovers a secret message (shape) within the map. It made me wonder what shapes or patterns we might see if we made our own maps.

[Alejandra Vicente · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este álbum ilustrado, aparentemente de trama simple, tiene una crudeza capaz de romperte el corazón y abrir tus ojos a una realidad más que latente. Tanto su escritor, Fran Nuño, como su ilustradora, Zuzanna Celej, han sido uno de los mayores descubrimientos literarios de este año.

Tiene una premisa dura: la guerra y una niña que huye de su hogar. Con una narración pausada, pero para nada pesada, vamos ahondando en la memoria de la pequeña de diez años. Como excusa para esa vuelta al pasado encontramos un mapa. Sin embargo, los primeros años de vida de Zoe no se alejan de lo que podríamos describir cada uno sobre los nuestros y esto, en parte, es lo que lo hace tan especial. Conecta lo propio con lo ajeno y nos hace vernos reflejados en una ciudad anónima, pero no desconocida. El giro final logra que la emoción estalle y, con total sinceridad, que dejes caer algunas lágrimas como ha sucedido en mi caso.

Por otro lado, los dibujos son suaves y frágiles. Con bordes poco definidos y fondos difuminados que se pierden al igual que pasa si tratamos captar toda la esencia de un recuerdo. Presentan unas ondulaciones y una acuosidad que refleja la efimeridad del momento. Cada página es una obra de arte en la que sumergirse.

Por tanto, es un libro duro que, sin mostrar las monstruosidades de la guerra, consigue que entendamos un poco mejor ese horrible sentimiento que produce tener que decir adiós a tu hogar. Recomendable es decir poco.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title scored five stars based on several factors. This is a story about a child who has to relocate from her childhood home because of war told in a very positive way. Zoe, aged ten, makes a map of all the positive things she loved in her hometown and it is only in the last double page spread do we see the destruction of the town. This is a translation from the Spanish language and the translation is done very well and kudos that the publisher listed the translator’s name in the publishing information. And the illustrations are beautifully done in muted tones and there is plenty of white space within the illustrations. I ready want to see more of this artist’s work. For a child’s title about war this is a positive read.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this picture book. It would be a great sit down "family read". You could spur a family discussion on where are some of your favorite places you like to visit. The book is made from STONE PAPER (Water and tear resistant. Produced without water; without trees and without bleach. Save 50% of energy compared to normal paper. " The book is about a 10 year old girl who must leave her town because of war, but to remember her home she had to leave she took a map and filled it with all the places she had good memories at. This would be a great book to have the family make a collage or memory map for themselves.

[Global Literature in Libraries Initiative]

Zoe has lived in the city all her life, but because of the war, she and her family are leaving the country to go to another. The night before she leaves, she spreads out a map of her city and marks all the places that have been important to her in her ten years of life. She marks where her house is, followed by her school. These are followed by the library and the bookstore, whose employees “introduced her to books that filled her with all different kinds of emotions.”
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[Emily Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a true work of art. The watercolor illustrations are eye-catching, and the text flows well. It is a unique concept, connecting to children of so many different backgrounds. Those with an interest in art/location/architecture will appreciate Zoe's map-making. I think most adults will find it deeply sentimental, because the places Zoe mentions are common memories for nearly everyone. My favorite aspect of the story is that it acts as the perfect introduction to refugees for children. I would recommend for ages 5-9. This is a beautiful addition to my library.

[Jacelynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forced to flee her home due to war, Zoe creates a map of all the places in her town where she has had "good memories." This eloquently illustrated book reminds readers of how powerful memories are and that no matter where we physically are, we will always have certain places in our hearts and in our memories. I think this would be a great book to teach elementary school students about war, the power memories, and even about writing about a part of their lives. I thought this book was beautiful and touching.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe is a young girl who has to leave her country because of war. Before she leaves to seek refuge in another country, she wants to map out the places in her homeland that have shaped her and she’s grown to love. The book has gorgeous illustrations and carries the message that home can be carried with us in our memories.
Good for teachers to use when mapping out memories for writing and as part of a refugee text set.

[Anne Lutomia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creative book about Zoe, a six year old who has to leave her city because of a war. She draws a map of good memories so that she can always remember this place and also return to it. The illustrations are easy on the eye and the Author's note soothing.

More exciting is that the book is published by a Certified B Corporation. This means that no trees, no water and no bleach is used to create its books. This book is produced using produced using stone paper

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

How I wish that this story had been set in the Middle East, not in the Land of Once Upon a Time, where children are currently fleeing to other countries, having no idea what will become of them. The map could trace Zoe’s wanderings from Damascus across the Mediterranean to the Greek Isles through Eastern Europe to Germany and still spell out a happier ending.

[Ms. Arca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the concept and was thinking when I read the blurb that this would be great for introduction to maps and integrating it within kid’s own lives. It might’ve strayed a little too far away from her leaving home for me, I think that’s important to talk about (without the gory imagery) for kids around the world. Sweet and good though.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very timely and teachable picture book about the experience of a young refugee. Her memories of the city she must leave due to war will be carried with her. The author's note states, "I would love the readers of this story to do the same experiment that Zoe does with the map of her city, and then discover the result."

[Michelle Farella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing illustrations and message. BUT what is even more amazing is the actual pages of this book! They are produced without water, trees, and bleach and are WATER AND TEAR resistant! This could be a revolution in library books!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe is forced to leave the city she has grown up in due to war. But before she leaves, she marks up a map of all the places she loves in the city ... the places where she has good memories. And when she connects the dots of those locations, there’s a surprise for her on the map.

[Leopoldo Bustos Del Pino · Rating 5 out of 5]

¿Qué pasaría si tienes que dejar el lugar donde siempre viviste para trasladarte a uno nuevo?
Zoe confeccionó un mapa, pero no era cualquier mapa, era solo un mapa que contenía aquellos lugares donde vivió sus mejores momentos.
¿Qué tan extenso sería tu mapa?

[MaryAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really lovely book that would help older children who are moving. Could be helpful in refugee communities. Concepts are a bit too abstract for younger children (k-1), though. Not appropriate for my setting but a good recommendation for families that are moving.

[Rani · Rating 5 out of 5]

When war forces Zoe to leave the country and the city where she has lived all her life she makes a plan on the map. Love the twist in the ending. Great book for #maps #girls #war #immigration #family #memories.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story. Simple but touching.

Read while in the Shakespeare and Co book shoppe in Paris

[Lara Samuels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning in every aspect!

[Jo-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Texture of the pages is different as they are made with stone paper. would be great to start a conversation about refugees.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved this book of a child leaving a war torn place and remember what that place had been to her.