Over the Shop by JonArno Lawson

Over the Shop by JonArno Lawson is another book recently published by Candlewick Press is a story about finding your own family and embracing the ones around you. It's a wordless picture book about a little girl and her grandparent who own a General Store with living space above. There's a run down apartment above they are trying to rent. Several possible renters come to view the space and each one walks away. Illustrator Qin Leng skillfully shows each possible renter and different reactions they have. After several people walking or running away a young couple agrees to take the space. The arrive with cleaning supplies and welcome help from the little girl. Not only does the run down apartment transform; the store front gets new paint, the neighborhood stray cat gets a new home, and the neighbors begin to make their own home improvements and spend time together. 

Qin Long used ink and watercolor to create soft warm images and now have me wondering about the collaboration process for wordless picture books.

A huge shoutout to Candlewick Press for sending along this Advanced Reader Copy.