When Lightning Comes in a Jar

The theme of this moving story can be summed up in the last two paragraphs. "I'll send them home with full bellies, tired bones and flickering jars in their laps. Their hearts will be overflowing. Full of lightning, put there by folks who loved them even before they were born. Gramma knew this well.She also knew that someday they would tell their children about all of us, and of the magic nights when we caught lightning in a jar."Inspired by another of Polacco's real life memories, she writes about a family reunion, after a forty-one-year gap. Her grandmother organizes all the children, teaching them how to catch fireflies. The children put these fireflies in a jar and then there is magic! Childhood memories are the ones that sustain us through our adult life. And often, we will pass these memories on to our own children and grandchildren. This is a precious book that will leave all readers with a warm fuzzy feeling.

Patricia Polacco is an author you'll want in your child's library. Your child will enjoy and identify with her stories. They are fun and have plenty to talk about during and after each one. Patricia's illustrations add even more depth to her stories. You and your child will want to read them over and over again. Most of her picture books are autobiographical and many are multicultural. She even has a great website with activities, book marks, pages to print and color, etc.

I love Patricia Polacco's books. She writes with such relativity to my life's experiences as a member of a small community, a child, a parent, a teacher, a business owner, and grandmother. Not all of them, of course, but I can project into the ones that are not directly related. She seems to write just plain and simply about lifes difficulities without overt drama. And there are believable solutions, content solutions. I Love Patricia Polacco's Books!

My granddaughter read this in school, and it served as the foundation for "grandparents day" sharing of photos, picnic, and field day for her class. It was great fun for the grands ... kids and parents.Lovely story and ilustrations.

I bought this for my grand daughter. We had a great time reading it together. She read one page I read the next.. It's a warm, fun family get together book which takes in several generations of family. We read it after Thundercake-- another great Patricia Polacco book I highly recommend this book!

. A great read aloud about a family reunion where the kids are anticipating and trying to guess the mystery of Lightning in a Jar.

I loved this story because it reminded me of my childhood growing up in Illinois and catching fireflies in the summer. I always like how the author shows a wonderful relationship with a child and a grandparent or older person in this book and her other books. I liked how they showed how family traditions are kept and handed down. Wonderful story.

Love this author. Bought book to go with others from this author for grand daughter.

Classic book in great condition!

Brought tears to my eyes when I read it. Very well written book about the importance of family, and tradition. Excellent.

This book is great for teaching about family traditions.

Just received !! Awesome book!!!

My 4 1/2-year-old daughter loves this book, it is beautifully illustrated and the story is heartwarming. I highly recommend it.