Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs by Tomie de Paola

Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs by Tomie de Paola.  Revised edition. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1998.  

A worthy holder of the classic tag, recently reissued in full colour to celebrate the 20th anniversary. The book tells the true story of young Tommy and his best friend, his great-grandmother Nana Upstairs. Tommy's mother explains that Nana Upstairs will never come back "[e]xcept in your memory. She will come back in your memory whenever you think about her." When Tommy loses Nana Upstairs and, years later, Nana Downstairs, he sees a falling star - "Perhaps ... a kiss from Nana Upstairs."