Life Is Beautiful

by Winsome Bingham, Molly Mendoza (illustrator)

A hopeful and poignant picture book about a little girl who loses her grandmother and how, even in the midst of sadness and loss, life is beautiful.Every week, Granny Dee takes three trains and one bus to have a weekend full of TV-watching, bubble-bathing, nail-painting, day-tripping, and living LIFE with her granddaughter. Granny Dee always says, “Everybody should enjoy life. Life is beautiful.” Until one weekend Granny Dee doesn’t come, and Momma says she’s getting too old for trains and buses. So week after week, the little girl and her momma go to her instead. Then, one Sunday morning, Granny Dee dies. Can Momma and the little girl still find beauty in life while missing someone they loved?

Genres: Picture Books, Grief, Death, Childrens, Family, African American, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Winsome Bingham is an author and literacy advocate for reading and authentic representation of children and communities in children’s literature. She is a connoisseur of soul food and a master cook (at KidLit dinner parties, reunions, and get-togethers).

Winsome is a teacher by trade and a US Army war and disabled veteran by circumstance. She received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults.

You can find her cooking up soul food on Sundays or taking THE WALK to the polls with friends and family. Winsome can also be found writing on a deck while waiting patiently with a camera to capture a submarine shooting out of the water. She lives on a fictional army post called FORT GOODE where you are always WELCOME.

Reviews

[Meeghan]

I can not express how beautiful this book is — both with the illustrations and the story. I tear up every time I read it.

[Benjamin Rubenstein]

There I was in the busy library reading this to my half-paying-attention toddler and getting hit out of nowhere with the heaviness of this book! I didn't see that one coming.

[Aubreeze]

Just read the ARC at work and cried. It’s so beautiful.

[Lisa]

Every weekend this grandmother visits her granddaughter across the city. “Three trains and a bus for a hug from my favorite grandbaby,” Granny Dee says. They spend time together, polish their fingernails, watch TV, and relax. “Everybody should enjoy life. Life is beautiful.” One weekend Granny can’t come. She is getting to old for trains and buses. The little girl and her mother visit Granny instead. As they listen to a choir on the radio, Granny Dee says, “The angels calling, Missy. They calling me home.”
“You’re already home.”
“Earth is rented space,” Granny says. “Heaven is home.”
And one day, Granny waves her fingers, closes her eyes, and lets her last breath escape into the air.

Momma reminds the little girl of the most important lesson. “Everybody should enjoy life. Life is beautiful.”

[Emmett]

A visually stunning picture book about life, love, and loss.

I cannot get over the artwork; the colors are immaculate, and the linework, textures, and visual storytelling make everything all the more whimsical.

The story itself reminded me of my own grandparents (all of whom are gone now), who went out of their way to come see us, live life, and love together. In this book, the grandmother does just that with her granddaughter, showing and experiencing with her the small joys of life. When the grandmother became ill, I was extremely touched when the granddaughter treated her with the same level of appreciation and care. After the grandmother was gone, the granddaughter continued living by the same philosophy:

"Everybody should enjoy life. Life is beautiful."

[Marti]

Beautifully illustrated and gorgeous story about a young girl who enjoys spending time with her grandmother and then what happens when her grandmother becomes ill and eventually passes away.

As much as I loved the story, I only gave it three stars because I found the grammar jarring. It lacked subject/verb agreement in some of the prose, not just the dialogue, but it wasn't consistent so I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be like that or I missed something or maybe the book I got is misprinted? I had an English teacher read it because, other than that issue, it was practically perfect to me, so I thought maybe it was just me? The English teacher agreed that it was jarring and disrupted the flow of the story for her too but maybe we're just grammar nerds? (I'm a librarian)

[Lisa]

Every weekend this grandmother visits her granddaughter across the city. “Three trains and a bus for a hug from my favorite grand-baby,” Granny D says. They spend time together, polish their fingernails, watch TV, and relax. “Everyone should enjoy life. Life is beautiful.“ One weekend Granny can’t come. She’s getting too old for trains and buses. The little girl and her mother visit Granny instead. As they listen to a choir on the radio, Granny D says, “The angels calling, Missy. They calling me home.” “You’re already home.“
“Earth is rented space,” Granny says. “Heaven is home.”And one day, Granny waves her fingers, closes her eyes, and lets her last breath escape into the air. Mama reminds the little girl of the most important lesson. “Everybody should enjoy life. Life is beautiful.“

[Martha Simpson]

This sweet story shows the love between a girl and her grandmother. "Life is beautiful," says Granny as they enjoy their weekends together. After Granny dies, the girl and her Momma spend their weekends doing the same things the girl did with Granny. Rather than being a book about grief, this is a book about celebrating life. Cheerful, colorful art accompanies this sensitive and life-affirming story.

[Amy]

This book celebrates the relationship between a young girl and her grandmother and the loss when her grandmother passes away. The text and illustrations tell a rich story of love, joy, loss, grief, and healing. It's beautiful!

[Jessica]

I was looking for a gentle but truthful book about death after a child in my class lost a parent suddenly. I wish I had this for him then. It is heart-wrenching and lovely at the same time. I bought one of Amy library and one for Glenna.

[Kayleigh Ann]

This is a beautiful book all around. This book tackles the topics of love, loss, and celebrating the life lost. I believe this would be a wonderful book for any young child who has lost someone close to them, as it talks about celebrating life and feeling your grief in healthy ways.

[Maggie]

I cried.

Loving look at the relationship between grandparent + grandchild, and the loss of said grandparent.

Life is beautiful!

[Lysa]

This book genuinely made me tear up omg

[Becky]

A good book for kids grieving a grandparent to help reflect on the good times. But make sure you know going in that Granny Dee dies, it doesn’t seem that way from page one so it could be a shock.

[Jenn]

Beautiful story that is sometimes overwhelmed by illustrations. Circles connect the pictures from one 0age to the next. Expressions and body language convey joy and love.

[K.C. Norton]

I'm not crying, you're crying.

[Y.Poston]

such a beautiful granny and granddaughter
love affair!

[stillme]

ALA ALSC Notable 2025

[Michelle]

SAD but good, as life is. The art is amazing. The ending was a bit odd IMO but still a good book.

[Cheryl]

I'm not sure how effective the book will be for those others who need it. It didn't do anything for me. But it is undeniably gorgeous and I will look for more by both creators.

[Teighlor]

This book had a huge emotional impact on me by showing that you can find joy in the activities you share with loved ones, even after they pass. Shows readers that joy and grief can coexist.

[Ripley McNab]

I spent a lot of time with this story throughout my book short assignment. I think this book does a wonderful job of showing how joy and grief can coexist at the same time. I would 100% have this book in my own classroom.