Sunshine Home
By Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Diane De Groat
Clarion Books, New York 1994
ISBN 0-395-63309-5
Timothy is very fond of his grandmother,and when she falls and has to go to hospital he finds it hard to see her in her wheelchair. He knows his parents are upset about her injury and can’t understand why everyone is being very upbeat and happy when they visit. When he sees his grandmother in the hospital he is pleased to see that she looks well, “except that her hair is curly instead of straight” – even small things that make a loved one look different can be upsetting for young children who want to see the same person they are used to. He takes her for a walk around the room and they talk about things they can see outside the window and she asks if the finches still come to her window, so he is able to reassure her of this. They have to stop when the nurse brings Gram her dinner and he is embarrassed to see them put a bib around her neck – as is she.
When they leave the hospital Timothy’s mother bursts into tears and they have to wait for her to calm down, but then she realises she has forgotten to give her mother the new school photo of Timothy she had brought. Timothy returns to the ward and find his grandmother slumped down in her wheelchair “crying hard”. She tries to sit up straight but needs Timothy’s help as the seat belt has slipped higher on her body. She tells him not to tell his mother that she is upset and he begins to understand their bright behaviour when they were together – they were trying to protect the feelings of the other. He tells her his mother is crying as well and tells his Gram that it would be better if they were honest with each other about their feelings.
Timothy runs back outside and tells his parents that Gram needs them, so they hurry back inside. This time they are honest with each other and talk about how things really are, and Gram admits she is really wanting to be able to go back home again.
A sensitive story that parents can share with their children to help them talk about how beloved grandparents can be helped with love and honesty.
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