The Macaroni Necklace and The Pink Panda Bear

The little boy loves his macaroni necklace and his pink panda bear more than anything in the world, but no one except his grandmother seems to understand. Other adults want to put the bear and the necklace in the washer or throw them away. Grandma protects them. Yet, what happens when Grandma has to go away?

The little boy loves his macaroni necklace and his pink panda bear more than anything in the world, but no one except his grandma seems to understand. The boy clings to these toys despite his parents’ insistence to wash or get rid of them. Only Grandma defends the treasured bear and necklace. Yet, what happens when Grandma has to go away? Rich in illustrations, “The Macaroni Necklace and the Pink Panda Bear” engenders discussion, character development and language growth while exploring themes of death, growing up and letting go.

In addition to “The Macaroni Necklace and The Pink Panda Bear”, Kathleen E. Suits-Smith is also the author of a novel dedicated to contemporary migrant workers, "Another Day, Otro Día", which she published in July 2015. With backgrounds in writing, teaching, and farming, Kathy brings a varied background to each project. She has also written poetry, a newspaper column, and features for independent living/agricultural magazines. However, Kathy’s strongest credentials for writing children’s literature come from being a mother and a grandmother. As a reading teacher, Kathy endeavored to make this children’s book thematically rich to foster discussion and character development. The rich language experience of a story in poetry offers opportunities for growth in vocabulary and language skills. In addition to providing parents an opportunity to discuss the subject matter with their children, the project was made even more special by the fact that Kathy collaborated with her cousin, Patty, who provided the rich and detailed illustrations.