Making Space - by Paola Quintavalle (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A delightful and inspiring picture book about making time for the little things that make life rich and beautiful, from author Paola Quintavalle and award-winning illustrator Miguel Tanco.

Watching a flower grow. Taking time to say goodbye. Giving yourself the chance for another try. Holding hands and letting go. And welcoming the night when the moon is up.

These are all things for which we need to make time--things that involve both imagination and intention, even though they are ordinary. By sharing these small moments, this playful, conceptual book inspires us not to waste but to fill the precious time we have on our hands.

Review Quotes

A Children's Book Council Hot Off the Press Selection, August 2024!

"A sunny look at living life with intention... Stresses the importance of making space not only for the momentary encounters in life but also for the emotions involved. Tanco's pen illustrations are delicate and textured... A reminder to embrace the smaller moments in life with purpose."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Beautifully simple yet moving text demonstrates the purpose that people put into things every day, such as holding a hand, letting go, planting a flower, then watching it grow... The art style is similar to Peter H. Reynolds's work... Children and adults will find the story charming, yet emotion-evoking as everything is relevant to real-life events. This quick read will certainly be a favorite, as it serves as a reminder that the little things in life with friends inform our best memories. VERDICT: Guaranteed to be loved by all readers, this book is a valuable purchase for the SEL or general children's section. Recommended."-- "School Library Journal"

"Every act of making space is in some sense a creative act and an act of faith... Lovely... A charming taxonomy of the many forms of this existential exhale, the many ways we can deepen and magnify life by giving things beyond our control the time and space they take... Page by page, there emerges a growing awareness that making space is really about our relationship to time and the unknown--that it is intimately related to learning how to wait better, that it is a laboratory for the paradoxes and possibilities of change, that it is where we come to terms with our necessary losses... Making Space is an illustrated ode to the art of welcoming the unknown."--Maria Popova "The Marginalian"

"Short, evocative lines of text accompanied by loosely sketched, lively drawings remind readers to make space in their lives for many different experiences and explorations... Some experiences are more emotional, like saying goodbye to a pet who dies or a friend who leaves. Fun is part of life, too, demonstrated by pillow fights, beach trips, and campouts. The illustrations are sometimes surprising in a creative way, such as when 'scribbling' is done with ice skates rather than a pencil. Whether these children are on the go, pausing to focus intently, or simply stopping to breathe, they invite others to observe, act, and grow."-- "Booklist"

"Together with Miguel Tanco's energetic, loose-lined illustrations and warm lemon-yellow palette, Paola Quintavalle's sparse text in Making Space leaves copious room for connecting the book's short vignettes to its evocative title... Tanco's sunny tableaux primarily feature small children playing outside and exploring the natural world, without any cell phones or screens in view. He depicts heightened emotions and lots of lively joy... This is a book to make space for."--Julie Danielson "BookPage"

About the Author

Paola Quintavalle was born in Rome, Italy. She has worked with children and books in a variety of contexts for many years. She joined Orecchio Acerbo Editore, a prestigious Italian publisher specializing in illustrated books, in 2003, and she moved to New York in 2010. Making Space is her second book as an author, following Crescendo, illustrated by Alessandro Sanna. Miguel Tanco is the author and illustrator of over 60 children's books, for which he has received numerous awards and recognitions. Tanco teaches illustration and organizes creative workshops with children and illustrators around Europe. Born in Extremadura, Spain, he now lives in Milan, Italy, with his wife and two sons.