The book is about a little girl, Emily, who sees an old man sitting alone at a café and eating breakfast daily. One day after he disappears and reappears, she decides to talk to him to express her concern. How the duo becomes friends and what happens next form the story. 

I don’t know if this is the right or wrong time to read the book. The old man on the cover picture resembled a grandpa I lost very recently. A part of me wanted comfort from this book. It did help some, though it also brought a fresh round of grief. At least I have grandma to talk to now. 

The illustrations are perfect for the book’s theme. The cloudy and rainy background mellows the setting and hints at what’s to come. The little girl’s features are spot-on. The detailing is just as beautiful, especially the butterflies in soft off-white. The text is too small, though. 

I wish I could write more, but I’m feeling too emotional at this point. To summarize, The Old Man Eating Alone is a touching story about loss, grief, coping with the death of loved ones, and staying hopeful. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clavis Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.