Keepers

Kenyon loves to listen to his grandmother's stories almost as much as he loves to play baseball. He'd like Little Dolly to designate him the next Keeper of the family lore, but she tells him the honor is reserved for girls. Setting out to buy a 90th birthday gift for Little Dolly, Kenyon instead falls for a new baseball glove for himself. As regret weighs down his heart, he confides his shame to his father, who tells him that you can only learn from your mistakes. Just when Kenyon thinks he's run out of ideas for Little Dolly's gift, inspiration hits.

Children's Literature

This is a wonderful, warm family story on several levels. Kenyon's grandmother, Little Dolly, is the family "keeper," holding "the stories of the past until it's time to pass them on." Only girls can be keepers, she tells Kenyon when he asks if he can be the next keeper. Kenyon wants to get Little Dolly a ninetieth birthday present, but before he knows it he's spent all his money on a baseball glove. How can he even hope to be the next keeper if he can't be trusted with his own money? He is, fortunately, able to talk with his father and take some very good advice. His present for Little Dolly is unique, and young readers just might be inspired to copy Kenyon.