If All the World Were… by Joseph Coelho

If All the World Were… by Joseph Coelho reinforces the themes of bereavement, family, reflection and seasons.

 

A story about the shared love between a young girl and her ailing grandfather. They tell stories, take walks and write about the changing seasons. They admire the beauty of their environment and use their imagination to create special memories of their time together.

 

As the seasons pass the grandfather becomes weaker. “If all the world were springtime, I would replant my grandad’s birthday so that he would never get old.” One day when the girl visits her Grandad his chair is empty. “If all the world were stories, I could make my grandad better just by listening, listening, listening to every tale he has to tell. But some tales are silent.” The girl helps gather his belongings, finding objects reminding her of their time together.