The Remembering Stone    by Barbara Timberlake Russell & Claire B. Cotts Order:  USA  Can Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2004 (2004) Hardcover      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson The Remembering Stone is a gentle tale of the immigrant's nostalgia for home and family, and of the empowerment that dreams give to children. Ana and her Mama watch blackbirds 'lift like a carpet being shaken' from their city apartment garden and wish them 'Que les vaya bien. Safe journey' across the ocean to Ana's grandparents in Costa Rica. Mama shares her 'dream of going home' some day. Ana's friend Sophia dreams of being an actress, and Mr. Nguyen of bringing his family to live with him. Dour Mr. Hoffer scoffs at their plans; sadly, he's forgotten how to dream. But Ana goes to sleep with Mama's remembering stone, 'spit from the great volcanoes in Costa Rica', under her pillow. And in her dreams she takes flight across the ocean. Seeing the extended family around her grandparents' 'casita', Ana decides to 'wish for luck, work hard, and hold hope inside', so that one day she and Mama can visit together 'and all hug until our arms are tired from squeezing.' Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews