Naomi and Mrs. Lumbago

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Powell,
Ohio.

Naomi’s parents are up to their eyeballs in work, which is why Naomi
goes upstairs to Mrs. Lumbago’s apartment everyday after school.
Together they do homework and housework and cuddle and watch TV, while
Mr. Lumbago rocks in his rocking chair. To Naomi, the Lumbagos are her
family and Mrs. Lumbago is her best friend. Naomi knows every inch of
the apartment, which she explores as she helps Mrs. Lumbago clean, but
she still hasn’t discovered the treasure that she knows is hidden
there. The sudden death of Mr. Lumbago takes Naomi’s mind off the
treasure for awhile, but as Mrs. Lumbago starts to regain her spirit,
Naomi is more determined than ever to find the treasure. Mrs. Lumbago
insists that the only treasure in her apartment is Naomi, but Naomi
persists in her search until she finds what she has been looking for.

Gilles Tibo won the Governor General’s Literary Award (in the
Children’s text category) for the original French version of this
book. Susan Ouriou’s translation captures Naomi’s fresh, innocent,
and yet incredibly wise character with simplicity and charm. Naomi has a
vivid imagination and can let herself be carried away with fantasy, yet
she faces the sometimes unpleasant facts of life and death with grace
and good sense. Her mature perspective and candid insights are
enchanting. This chapter book is a celebration of imagination and life.
Highly recommended.