I Wish That You Knew
Written by Rebecca Gardyn Levington
Illustrated by Alyssa Russell
Jacket design by TBD
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Editor: Jaime Gelman
Publication Date: August 25, 2026
ISBN: 9781499818963
Ages 4-8
It’s been one year since Grandma died. One year without beach walks, shopping trips, and baking challah together. On this anniversary, the first yahrzeit, a young girl attends Grandma’s unveiling ceremony, taking time to let go of some of her sadness and celebrate the many moments of joy they shared.
This heartfelt picture book is about honoring those we have lost by remembering the happiness, comfort, and wisdom they brought into our lives. It is about the imprints that the people we love leave upon our hearts long after they are gone.
Available for Pre-Order Now!
Written by Rebecca Gardyn Levington
Illustrated by Alyssa Russell
Jacket design by TBD
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Editor: Jaime Gelman
Publication Date: August 25, 2026
ISBN: 9781499818963
Ages 4-8
Praise for I Wish That You Knew
“Levington’s spare, rhyming couplets blend the sadness at the loss of a loved one with the joy of having known them. Russell’s vivid, softly hued illustrations take on an added layer of emotion with semitransparent images of Grandma alongside the child—a strong visual representation of memory. Books on the topic of unveiling are still relatively few and far between, making this one all the more needed. By turns poignant and illuminating.”
Kirkus Reviews
“Levington writes in the voice of the child speaking to her grandmother, and for this, the rhyming verse is just right, which is an impressive feat for a book centered on a serious topic[…] A meditation on a specific Jewish tradition that is also broad enough to resonate with any family experiencing a recent loss.”
School Library Journal
“A unique and important book […] Rich with Jewish tradition, this is a must for anyone struggling to talk about death with a child.”
Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle
