Marie-Louise Gay's favourite book of 2017 was And So It Goes by Paloma Valdivia, translated by Susan Ouriou

Happy holidays! CBC Books asked authors to share their favourite books of 2017. We will be publishing these recommendations throughout December. 

Children's book author Marie-Louise Gay chose And So It Goes by Chilean writer and illustrator Paloma Valdivia and translated by Calgary's Susan Ouriou.

"A lovely, poetic book about the cycle of life. How people, animals and plants appear and disappear in our lives. In a lighthearted way, Chilean author and illustrator, Paloma Valvidia, observes that:

'Those of us here are just here. And so we'd best enjoy ourselves.
We don't know when, but those who arrive will leave one day as well.'

"The illustrations are wonderfully bright and joyous. This is a delightful, provocative book to share and discuss with a child. It will inspire many questions from children which in my opinion, is the whole point of the book."

Marie-Louise Gay has twice won the Governor General's Literary Award for children's literature — illustration: first in 1987 for Rainy Day Magic and again in 2000 for Yuck, A Love Story. Her most recent picture books include Short Stories for Little Monsters and Any Questions?