ALA Booklist (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2002)

for reading aloud. In her familiar tone and art style, Polacco shares another warmhearted family memory in a story-behind-the-story. While awaiting her family's arrival, Trisha thinks back on other reunions, which were always filled with food, contests (bag races, watermelon-seed-spitting contests), games, and even rides on Grandpa's draft horse. But one particular reunion was special to Trisha, the one at which Gramma shared a generation-old tradition--catching "lightning in a jar." The watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, skillfully composed on the pages, expressively sketch the characters, including Trisha's bespectacled, cheeky aunties, and catch the exuberance of times gone by. At the end, listeners discover that Trisha has become the family elder, and is looking forward to passing on family traditions (catching lightning bugs in a jar) and stories to another generation. For today's children, many of whom will never experience a family reunion, this autobiographical story will convey the joys of family and perhaps elicit questions about relatives.

Horn Book

While waiting for her relatives to arrive for a family reunion, the adult narrator describes a family get-together from her childhood, when her grandmother seemed to magically call up fireflies for the children to catch. The narrator's adult concerns and comments that frame the story won't interest kids, but Polacco's illustrations and text are filled with rich details of time and place.

Kirkus Reviews

Tradition abounds in this tale of a Michigan family reunion. The narrator recollects a childhood gathering in detail, including spirited descriptions of bag races, storytelling, and Jell-O. After Gramma reveals the mystery of catching lightning in a jar, the narration shifts to the present, demonstrating how ritual is passed through the generations. The author herself is pictured in the center of the new generation's gathering, telling stories—how fitting—and teaching how to catch lightning in a jar. Polacco ( Mr. Lincoln's Way , 2001, etc.) combines enthusiastic written imagery with effective watercolor-and-pencil illustrations to create a mood of excitement. A background of cool blues and greens in this rural setting contrasts with the bright, vibrant characters. The action-packed scenes are full of animated expressions and lively movement. Although the upbeat tone is primarily inspired by the illustrations, the large amount of text, and its lack of rhyme, suggests older readers. Though sentimental at times, this is a warm story of bridging the generation gap through heritage and togetherness—and it's fun to see the author illustrate herself as an adult. (Picture book. 6-9)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Polacco (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Betty Doll) once again mines her own reminiscences, framing this offering around two family reunions, one long ago, one present day. Roly-poly aunties and Gramma, swathed in housedresses and flowered aprons and bearing "zillions of meatloafs" and "gazillions" of Jell-O salads, and other relatives gather on young Tricia's grandparents' farm for a day of baseball and croquet, bag races and leisurely stories about one-room schoolhouses and seeing "the first-ever flying machine in the state of Michigan!" The children are all measured at the milk shed, where Tricia notes the marks of her grandparents' generation ("Hard to imagine that once they were little just like me"). Although the text-laden narrative begins to bog down here, the tempo quickens as evening falls and it's finally time to catch "lightning in a jar" (fireflies), summoned by Gramma's magic. Fast-forward to a present-day gathering at the author's home, where little has changed. "We'll eat scrumptious Jell-O and meatloaf, play baseball and croquet,... and scrawl new measurements on my milk house doorjamb," while "a new crop of children" awaits the magic of fireflies. The softly shaded watercolor and pencil illustrations brim with nostalgia, underscoring the tender continuity of generations and traditions. Though some readers may liken the experience to meandering through a stranger's photo album, others will gladly accept Polacco's invitation to attend this family reunion, and adults will appreciate the author's warm message of the importance of heritage. Ages 4-8. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(June)

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-As the adult Trisha awaits the arrival of relatives for the first family reunion at her home, she looks back on one such event at Gramma's house when she was a child. Anticipation of the arrival of aunts, uncles, and lots of cousins is almost too much for the young girl to bear. Everything is going to be just like in previous years, Trish reassures herself with every question to Gramma: "Will there be Jell-O like there always is baseball and croquet bag races And will you tell stories ?" The answer is "yes" to every question, except the telling of the stories. Gramma's reply to that is: "Might. And we might catch lightning in a jar." This was something new. With her usual narrative flair Polacco weaves a story of family remembrances and traditions. Double-page spreads show children, large as life, running barefoot throughout the long day and chasing fireflies into the night. The watercolor-and-pencil artwork captures the beauty of a midnight-blue sky illuminated by moonlight and the poignancy of treasured moments. The story comes full circle back to Trisha's present-day reunion, showing "a new crop of children" and a new generation of storytellers.-Wanda Meyers-Hines, Ridgecrest Elementary School, Huntsville, AL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.