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Ghost Wings
Set in Mexico amidst the monarch butterflies' annual migration and during the Days of the Dead, Ghost Wings , written by Barbara M. Joosse, author of the best-selling Mama, Do You Love Me? , and illustrated with the luminescent artwork of Giselle Potter, is the touching story of a little girl whose very best friend is her grandmother. But one spring, Grandmother becomes thin as smoke. When she dies, Papa says, "When you love someone they never really leave." But to the little girl, Grandmother seems impossibly far away. Who will sing to her? Who will chase the monsters from under her bed? Then, during the Days of the Dead, something extraordinary happens that brings Papa's words vividly to life. Ideal for one-on-one sharing as well as a group discussion, Ghost Wings' poignant message of the endurance of love and the power of memory is sure to linger long after the book is closed. A discussion guide is included.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2001
66 people want to read
About the author
Barbara M. Joosse
67 books47 followers[Author also goes by the name Barbara Joosse.]
Barbara M. Joosse has written many books for children. Among them are Mama, Do You Love Me?, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee; and I Love You the Purplest, illustrated by Mary Whyte. She says, "When I was a little girl, I wished for two things — a best friend, and something so ferocious it would scare away the monsters under my bed. And so I have written Lovabye Dragon. I think maybe it’s for little me." Barbara Josse lives in Wisconsin.
Barbara M. Joosse has written many books for children. Among them are Mama, Do You Love Me?, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee; and I Love You the Purplest, illustrated by Mary Whyte. She says, "When I was a little girl, I wished for two things — a best friend, and something so ferocious it would scare away the monsters under my bed. And so I have written Lovabye Dragon. I think maybe it’s for little me." Barbara Josse lives in Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 31, 2020
A young girl narrates this story of love, loss and solace, describing her close bond with her grandmother, who was her companion and best friend as well. When her grandmother dies, the girl is lost in grief, until the Day of the Dead comes, and helps her to celebrate this beloved relative...
The story in Barbara M. Joose's Ghost Wings - a young girl loses a loved one, with whom she enjoyed watching the monarch butterflies that would gather near their home in Mexico - reminded me very strongly of Judy Goldman's Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead . Both stories incorporate the folk belief that the monarchs bring the souls of loved ones back home to Mexico, when they return on their annual migration, and both involve Day of the Dead celebrations. I found Joose's narrative poignant (although perhaps not as strongly as Goldman's), and I found Giselle Potter's accompanying artwork, done in ink, watercolor and colored pencil, quite appealing. Her figures are quite stylized, in interesting ways, and I liked her use of color and form. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for stories about loss, healing, and the Day of the Dead.
The story in Barbara M. Joose's Ghost Wings - a young girl loses a loved one, with whom she enjoyed watching the monarch butterflies that would gather near their home in Mexico - reminded me very strongly of Judy Goldman's Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead . Both stories incorporate the folk belief that the monarchs bring the souls of loved ones back home to Mexico, when they return on their annual migration, and both involve Day of the Dead celebrations. I found Joose's narrative poignant (although perhaps not as strongly as Goldman's), and I found Giselle Potter's accompanying artwork, done in ink, watercolor and colored pencil, quite appealing. Her figures are quite stylized, in interesting ways, and I liked her use of color and form. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for stories about loss, healing, and the Day of the Dead.
October 28, 2015
re-reading this one for a Day of the Dead fiction lesson - love the tie in to the monarch butterflies, which I haven't seen in all the NF books I have read on the topic. Back matter includes info on the butterflies, the holiday, and discussion questions. Love the paintings by Potter.
February 1, 2015
Ages 4-8.
I LOVED this one. A grandmother and her granddaughter in Mexico have a special relationship. They enjoy watching the monarch butterflies in the Magic Circle, working together, and Grandmother always protects the granddaughter from monsters in her room at night. Then Grandmother passes away.
This book is excellent at discussing several concepts: death, Mexican traditions, and monarch butterflies. The language is simple, though there are some Spanish words that are well explained in context.
At first I was put-off by the illustrations because the people's faces looked a little weird, but a few pages in and it just became charming. The butterflies are beautiful.
This would be a great book for introducing any of the concepts I mentioned. At the end of the book they explain more about the Mexican customs for Los Dias de los Muertos, as well as about monarchs. There is also a guide at the end of the book for discussion as well as activities.
I LOVED this one. A grandmother and her granddaughter in Mexico have a special relationship. They enjoy watching the monarch butterflies in the Magic Circle, working together, and Grandmother always protects the granddaughter from monsters in her room at night. Then Grandmother passes away.
This book is excellent at discussing several concepts: death, Mexican traditions, and monarch butterflies. The language is simple, though there are some Spanish words that are well explained in context.
At first I was put-off by the illustrations because the people's faces looked a little weird, but a few pages in and it just became charming. The butterflies are beautiful.
This would be a great book for introducing any of the concepts I mentioned. At the end of the book they explain more about the Mexican customs for Los Dias de los Muertos, as well as about monarchs. There is also a guide at the end of the book for discussion as well as activities.
June 30, 2017
As a very young girl I had the pleasure of reading this book. I cried and to this day I still cry. It is heartbreakingly beautiful. It makes me so happy to have read this book. I want to buy hundreds of copies and give them to everyone I know. The words have always been able to touch me on such a personal level. I feel like part of me is in this book. That is how good the author is at connecting to readers. There's so many lines I love but one of my favorites is "when she took me to the Magic Circle it really was filled with magic." What a beautiful truth, that people make places and moments special. I lost my father at a young age and everyday feels like his memory drifts farther and farther away. Like it is explained in this book, But parts of him comes back in moments when I need him. Thank you! Thank you for writing this book. I can't thank you enough. To the readers if you get the chance to have your hands on this book... Never let it go.
March 1, 2010
This is a wonderful book that will help any child who has had to deal with the loss of a family member to death. It's a tender story about a little girl who learns remembers all the beautiful things that her Grandmother taught her and that even death won't erase those sweet memories.
I also love that this book takes place in Mexico and shows how the Mexican culture deals with death and the loss of loved ones in their special holiday called the Days of the Dead.
I have to be honest. I cried when I got to the ending of this book. It reminded me that my grandparents who have passed taught me so much and that I can celebrate their lives by remembering and sharing what they taught me.
I also love that this book takes place in Mexico and shows how the Mexican culture deals with death and the loss of loved ones in their special holiday called the Days of the Dead.
I have to be honest. I cried when I got to the ending of this book. It reminded me that my grandparents who have passed taught me so much and that I can celebrate their lives by remembering and sharing what they taught me.
October 8, 2012
As Barbara Joosse always does, she has created a powerful story embedded with rich cultural background. I this case it is a young girl's relationship with her grandmother in only a few pages, then unfolds the girl's dealing with stages of grief across several seasons, tying it all together with the science and tradition of Day of the Dead, monarch migration, and loving memories. Back matter includes cultural discussion(with glossary), science details about monarch butterfly migration, and a simple guide for adults to explore feelings and activities from reading this book.
September 8, 2018
I love the illustrations in this book that talks about the death of a grandmother from the point of view of her granddaughter - who has very specific memories of their loving interactions.
While the illustrations convey rich and complex emotions in all the people in the story and in the background, even, the text feels plain and understated. (Oddly, the text uses the term ofrenda, and pan de los muertos, but not abuela, mariposa, or Dias de los Muertos - but this is a minor quibble.)
The back flap says that the author "has traveled to Mexico every year for nearly thirty years to visit her mother." I take this to mean that neither the author nor her mother are from Mexico, which may explain why the text feels a little muted or sedate - Perhaps the story is based on astute observations rather than direct lived experiences?
In any case, it's nicely done.
While the illustrations convey rich and complex emotions in all the people in the story and in the background, even, the text feels plain and understated. (Oddly, the text uses the term ofrenda, and pan de los muertos, but not abuela, mariposa, or Dias de los Muertos - but this is a minor quibble.)
The back flap says that the author "has traveled to Mexico every year for nearly thirty years to visit her mother." I take this to mean that neither the author nor her mother are from Mexico, which may explain why the text feels a little muted or sedate - Perhaps the story is based on astute observations rather than direct lived experiences?
In any case, it's nicely done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2023
A granddaughter's wonderful tribute to her grandmother. Grandma was her first best friend. They made tortillas together and tended to roses in the garden. They watched the miracle of the return of the Monarch butterflies to Mexico each year.
Grandma dies and they start the annual tradition of setting up an ofrenda and visiting Grandma on the Day of the Dead. The little girl realizes that she is starting to forget her grandmother and she feels sad and worried. It's not until she goes back to the butterfly migration and feels them crawling in her hands and sees their magical beauty that the memories start coming back to her again.
This is a very sentimental and sweet book with gorgeous, colorful illustrations.
Grandma dies and they start the annual tradition of setting up an ofrenda and visiting Grandma on the Day of the Dead. The little girl realizes that she is starting to forget her grandmother and she feels sad and worried. It's not until she goes back to the butterfly migration and feels them crawling in her hands and sees their magical beauty that the memories start coming back to her again.
This is a very sentimental and sweet book with gorgeous, colorful illustrations.
April 3, 2019
Connections: love of monarch butterflies ever since my grandma's wedding when I was little where she gave everyone an orange and black monarch butterflies in a little white box to all be let go of at once.
Use in classroom: To teach about culture and The day of the dead
Use in classroom: To teach about culture and The day of the dead
July 7, 2017
It is a book that I will treasure, because I relate to the main character in my own special way. 5+ stars as well as all of my other favorite books.
August 18, 2017
Love, loss, and butterflies. A beautiful read aloud.
April 10, 2019
A book about monarch butterflies, the Day of the Dead, fear, loss, mourning, and remembrance. Lovely book.
August 5, 2019
Weaves a story of how remembering our ancestors helps us come to terms with their loss and also teaches about The Day of the Dead.
March 17, 2025
A touching tribute to a loving grandmother with a Latin flair
February 23, 2015
Personal Reaction:
The book, Ghost Wings, covered many broad topics including death in a family, butterfly cycles, and even had many cultural references. The book begins with a little girl who expresses her love for her grandmother who would take her to "Magic Circle" in the Mexican forest. This is where the butterflies would pass through throughout the seasons. At the end of one season when the butterflies leave, her grandmother dies. The girl then goes into detail about how she remembers her grandmother and how when she left, she left the girl in despair. Soon, the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead began and the girl's family bought decorations to celebrate the grandmother's life. The girl soon began forgetting the feelings that her grandmother instilled in her. When the butterflies came back the girl could finally remember her beloved grandmother through the tickle of a butterfly on her arm.
Use in Classroom:
This would be an outstanding book for kindergarten through third grade classes for a variety of topics. This would be a great book to read the day after halloween to teach about the Mexican holiday, Las Dias de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead. The book would also be a good book to comfort a child who has had a recent loss in his/her family or even for a butterfly/Monarch unit. This book has lots of good figurative language such as similes, metaphors, and imagery. The key metaphor through the book is when the butterflies leave, which ultimately represents the girl's grief about the death of her grandmother. It contains many new and challenging vocabulary words for children too (boughs, rustled, metate, etc.). Another helpful source for teachers is at the end of the book. At the end, there is a guide to using this book and informational pages that gives the reader or teacher knowledge on the Day of the Dead and Monarch butterflies as well. While the book is sort of dark, it does teach an important lesson that everyone experiences at one time or another.
The book, Ghost Wings, covered many broad topics including death in a family, butterfly cycles, and even had many cultural references. The book begins with a little girl who expresses her love for her grandmother who would take her to "Magic Circle" in the Mexican forest. This is where the butterflies would pass through throughout the seasons. At the end of one season when the butterflies leave, her grandmother dies. The girl then goes into detail about how she remembers her grandmother and how when she left, she left the girl in despair. Soon, the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead began and the girl's family bought decorations to celebrate the grandmother's life. The girl soon began forgetting the feelings that her grandmother instilled in her. When the butterflies came back the girl could finally remember her beloved grandmother through the tickle of a butterfly on her arm.
Use in Classroom:
This would be an outstanding book for kindergarten through third grade classes for a variety of topics. This would be a great book to read the day after halloween to teach about the Mexican holiday, Las Dias de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead. The book would also be a good book to comfort a child who has had a recent loss in his/her family or even for a butterfly/Monarch unit. This book has lots of good figurative language such as similes, metaphors, and imagery. The key metaphor through the book is when the butterflies leave, which ultimately represents the girl's grief about the death of her grandmother. It contains many new and challenging vocabulary words for children too (boughs, rustled, metate, etc.). Another helpful source for teachers is at the end of the book. At the end, there is a guide to using this book and informational pages that gives the reader or teacher knowledge on the Day of the Dead and Monarch butterflies as well. While the book is sort of dark, it does teach an important lesson that everyone experiences at one time or another.
February 4, 2017
Set in Mexico amidst the monarch butterflies' annual migration and during the Days of the Dead, Ghost Wings, written by Barbara M. Joosse, author of the best-selling Mama, Do You Love Me?, and illustrated with the luminescent artwork of Giselle Potter, is the touching story of a little girl whose very best friend is her grandmother. But one spring, Grandmother becomes thin as smoke. When she dies, Papa says, "When you love someone they never really leave." But to the little girl, Grandmother seems impossibly far away. Who will sing to her? Who will chase the monsters from under her bed? Then, during the Days of the Dead, something extraordinary happens that brings Papa's words vividly to life. Ideal for one-on-one sharing as well as a group discussion, Ghost Wings' poignant message of the endurance of love and the power of memory is sure to linger long after the book is closed. A discussion guide is included.
May 1, 2016
My first review with the Rudolf Steiner School.
In Ghost Wings by Barbara Joosse (2001), the sad little girl is not ready to let go of her grandmother who is her favorite person in the world. "I pressed my nose into her pillow. At first I could smell cornmeal and roses, but after a while even the smell was gone." Although the grandmother is gone and scent is fading away, memories of them making tortillas, laying on bed and chasing away imaginary monsters, and visiting the Magic Circle of oyamel fir trees to say goodbye to the monarch butterflies will stay with her forever. My question for the wonderful RSSAA community is this: What kind of scent will match the essence of who you are?
In Ghost Wings by Barbara Joosse (2001), the sad little girl is not ready to let go of her grandmother who is her favorite person in the world. "I pressed my nose into her pillow. At first I could smell cornmeal and roses, but after a while even the smell was gone." Although the grandmother is gone and scent is fading away, memories of them making tortillas, laying on bed and chasing away imaginary monsters, and visiting the Magic Circle of oyamel fir trees to say goodbye to the monarch butterflies will stay with her forever. My question for the wonderful RSSAA community is this: What kind of scent will match the essence of who you are?
October 19, 2011
Beautiful illustrations and a great way to emphasize not only those that are remembered on this holiday, but also how one can think of the ones that are not with us anymore.
While celebrating the Days of the Dead, a young Mexican girl remembers her wonderful grandmother who sang songs, made tortillas, chased monsters away, and loved butterflies.
While celebrating the Days of the Dead, a young Mexican girl remembers her wonderful grandmother who sang songs, made tortillas, chased monsters away, and loved butterflies.
September 16, 2012
This book tells a story about a little Hispanic girl losing her grandmother. She deals with it by carrying all the memories she has of her. This book is good to read when discussing different cultures.
August 15, 2012
I have always loved the Mexican legend that the Monarchs carry the souls of loved ones. This is a beautiful rendition of that belief.
September 16, 2014
This is a touching story between a little girl and her grandmother. The setting is in Mexico, and the language is beautiful.
October 4, 2016
I picked this up because I wanted to see Giselle Potter's illustrations. I really like the use of scale in the art.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews