Grandparent's Day September 13, 2009
Reviews
Bones and the Roller Coaster Mystery
David A. Adler
Illustrated by Barbara Johansen Newman
Jeffrey Bones and his grandpa are spending the day at the amusement park. Grandpa purchases the tickets for the games and rides, including the special tickets for the big roller coaster. First Jeffrey and his grandpa go to the Basketball Shoot where grandpa makes all five shots and wins a big brown bear for Jeffrey. They are unsuccessful at the Dime Toss; however, the pair enjoy the merry-go-round ride. Jeffrey suggests that they go on the big roller coaster; however, grandpa does not have the special tickets. Jeffrey and his grandpa retrace their steps, starting at the ticket booth. Will they find the missing tickets? The mystery plot is light as Jeffrey and grandpa look for the special roller coaster tickets. The story line is not complex; there is some picture support. Some readers may need help to understand the structure of split dialogues in the story, since the text spacing may make it difficult for some readers to differentiate who is speaking. This mystery is part of “The Bones” series. Also, this author is known for his “Cam Jansen” mystery series. 2009, Viking/Penguin Young Readers Group, Ages 5 to 7, $13.99. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-6700-6340-6
ISBN: 0-6700-6340-1
The Hat that Wore Clara B
Melanie Turner-Denstaedt
Illustrated by Frank Morrison
It is Mother's Sunday, a traditional day in African American culture when older ladies wear particularly beautiful hats to church. Clara B. rushes to sit behind her grandmother, who wears her special “good” hat only on this day. Grandmother says that the hat really wears her, and Clara B. longs to have it wear her. Clara B. goes home with Grandma after church, helps her shop, and waits for the chance to get that hat throughout supper and clean-up time. When Grandma finally naps, Clara B. snatches the hat but crushes it in her haste. She tries to fix it, and leaves a note to say she is sorry, but fears what Grandma may say. On the next Mother's Sunday, Clara B. is pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful new hat on her seat, just like Grandma's old one, and Grandma is smiling as the old one, fixed by Clara B., is wearing her. Morrison's detailed painted scenes include a cast of believable folks, particularly the charming but impish Clara B. Double-page scenes depict the community members, while sequential vignettes display the events leading to the accident. The dual facing portraits of Grandma and Clara B. in their special hats make a glowing finale. A note adds information on the tradition of Mother's Sunday. 2009, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-374-32794-1
ISBN: 0-374-32794-7
Homegrown House
Janet S. Wong
Illustrated by E.B. Lewis
This is an absolutely wonderful book about a girl who wants to have the kind of “homegrown” house her grandmother has. While her parents are busy looking for new houses or special features that will be connected to the house, the narrator, an eight-year-old girl with a very wise grandmother, focuses on the smaller things that make a house a home: “Bunches of dried lavender hanging upside down/from the ceiling of my bedroom,/which will be painted five different colors/including rainbow tie-dye.” Grandma also has a number of wise and humorous comments to make throughout the text: “takes time/to settle into a house,/to learn to love it right,/to make it feel homegrown./Thirty years should do it.” The illustrations for the text are rendered in watercolors and really capture the detail found within the text. This is a wonderful book for kids, especially when they are visiting those fabulous grandparents who emulate the wise woman found in this book. 2009, Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Jean Boreen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-689-84718-9
ISBN: 0-689-84718-1
I Love Grandma
Lizi Boyd
A little frog experiences simple, fun adventures when her parents go away and she gets to stay with Grandma. A few sentences on each page describe what happens during the visit. The little frog is gently tucked into bed, then gets up early to play a “What's for breakfast” guessing game. After that, she and Grandma visit a yoga class, go swimming, identify different flowers with Grandma, play dress-up and more. The overall text lets listeners understand that they are safe and can have fun with a grandparent. This would be a good book to use to prepare children for such visits. Illustrations depicting the little frog and Grandma in their settings add humor to the cozy story. The book is well-sized for little hands, has thick pages that would stand up to wear, and the cover corners are gently rounded. It is from the “Super Sturdy Picture Book” series. 2009, Candlewick, Ages 2 to 4, $8.99. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3727-9
ISBN: 0-7636-3727-0
I Love Grandpa
Lizi Boyd
This is a delightful tale of a grandfather and his grandson, depicted as two lively and likeable frogs, as they spend the day together working on the farm and having some fun. Their day begins with a ride on the tractor doing farm work and hints from Grandpa about an adventure after they get their work done. First, though, they have to tidy up the barn and build a stone wall. Between those jobs, Grandpa tries to make a whistle from grass; his grandson cheerfully recognizes the sound as a screech. When the rock work is complete, they get lunch at the diner and then set off on the promised adventure. They take a boat ride to a little island they can explore. There, they look for buried treasure and build an elf house. Before they head for home, Grandpa scratches a note to the birds in the sand on the beach. The grandson believes the birds will read the note when they fly around the rowboat as the frogs make their way home. As a perfect ending to the day, Grandpa makes up a story for his grandson, who realizes the tale is about their shared adventure. This book is from the “Super Sturdy Picture Book” series. Pages are thick to stand up to wear, and the illustrations add humor to the simple text in a way that very young children can understand. 2009, Candlewick, Ages 2 to 4, $8.99. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3728-6
ISBN: 0-7636-3728-9
The Imaginary Garden
Andrew Larsen and Irene Luxbacher
Theo loves her Poppa's garden, and is concerned when he moves to an apartment and has to leave it. Since Poppa says it will be too windy on his balcony for real flowers, Theo suggests an imaginary garden. When spring arrives, Poppa puts a big blank canvas on the balcony. With paint they “build” a stone wall and create soil. Poppa paints crocuses and scilla coming up, and adds a visiting robin. When Poppa goes on holiday, he leaves Theo in charge. She adds blossoms in many colors and eagerly awaits his return. This delightful imaginative story combines sketchy black ink drawings with particularly colorful multimedia collages for illustrations. The decorative iron fence on the balcony makes a fine contrast for the great canvas that becomes the garden. There is a logic to the way it grows, with paints added in time for the crocuses and then tulip bulbs, while vines cover the stone, for a sense of magic to the colorful creation. The love between Theo and her grandfather is evident. If only a real garden were as easy to establish and flood with blooms as this one! 2009, Kids Can Press, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Ken Marantz & Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-5545-3279-7
ISBN: 1-5545-3279-5
Mare's War
Tanita S. Davis
During a road trip from California to Florida with their grandmother Mare, sisters Talitha and Octavia hear about Mare's extraordinary history. In 1944, at age seventeen, Mare ran away from her backwater Alabama town and joined the Women's Army Corps. After lying about her age and passing a written exam, Mare went on to become a member of the 6888th African American battalion. Through basic training, she gained physical and emotional strength. During the course of the war, she served in the United States, Scotland, and France. She tells her story through oral narrative and with letters she has written to her sister. Although she does not glamorize any part of army life, Mare narrates both her good and bad times in the service. Mare is strong, stubborn, and self-reliant--traits the reader can see and admire in her granddaughters. Readers may be surprised to learn about the level of discrimination Mare faced for being a woman as well as African American, even in the armed forces. Davis gives both major and minor character very distinct traits, making them memorable. She also has an ear for dialect and the speech of the 1940s, although the modern dialogue feels stilted in places. By focusing on vivid characterizations rather than long descriptions, Davis creates a work of historical fiction that even non-historians can enjoy. VOYA CODES: 4Q 3P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Will appeal with pushing; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2009, Knopf, 350p., $16.99 and PLB $19.99. Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Carlisle K. Webber (VOYA, June 2009 (Vol. 32, No. 2)).
ISBN: 978-0-375-85714-0
ISBN: 0-375-85714-1
Me with You
Kristy Dempsey
Illustrated by Christopher Denise
Anyone who has ever been lucky enough to feel a grandparent's love and support will appreciate this book. Here, a small bear cub reflects upon the meaningful relationship she enjoys with her immense grandfather. In the good times, they are happy together sipping tea, playing on the tire swing, making music, preparing for Christmas, tending to the garden, and more. Then there are the bad times, when the bear cub is sick, sad, gruff, and gloomy. Always, the grandpa bear is available, supportive, helpful, and loving. Young readers will be drawn in by Christopher Denise's beautiful, soft illustrations and the fun activities they depict. Adult readers will have their heartstrings tugged and their memories stirred. This is a lovely, reassuring book that would work well as a bedtime story—especially when read by a grandparent to the child who is the apple of his eye. 2009, Philomel/Penguin, Ages 2 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-399-25017-0
ISBN: 0-399-25017-4
No Mush Today
Sally Derby
Illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
Nonie's had enough mush for one day! When she has also had enough of her baby brother crying and her mom and dad not “attendin'” to her, she leaves home and goes to Grandma's, because Grandma always attends to Nonie, and she does not treat her like a baby. More importantly, there is no baby brother crying at Grandma's place. Nonie decides, therefore, that she will live with grandma for good. After Nonie spends a delightful day at church and at a church picnic with her dad and grandma, the trio returns home to find baby brother and Momma happy to see Nonie, who decides to go back home after striking a bargain with Momma that tomorrow there will be no more mush for Nonie. Sally Derby and Nicole Tadgell team up to tell this story about a little girl coping with a life change that affects children with younger siblings. The pictures of Nonie at the table with a bowl of mush and at the church picnic with Grandma and Dad clearly illustrate Nonie's frustrations and glee. Children will feel the warmth and love seep through the pages of this multicultural picture book as Nonie takes her problems to Grandma. She just wants a little independence, after all. She gets that and much more after she talks to Momma like a big girl. 1997, Lee and Low Books, Ages 4 to 8, $17.95. Reviewer: LaTasha M. Hunter (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-6006-0238-2
ISBN: 1-6006-0238-X
Our Corner Grocery Store
Joanne Schwartz
Not that many years ago, little grocery stores, like the one Anna Marie's Italian grandparents run, were liberally sprinkled on corners throughout urban areas. Today (at least in Winnipeg), those little islands of community enterprise are fast disappearing, their places taken by the ubiquitous 7-11 and Mac convenience stores. Our Corner Grocery Store is a charming piece of nostalgia told from the point of view (and in the voice) of five year-old Anna Maria, granddaughter of Nonna Rosa and Nonno Domenico. The young narrator is proud of her role as a helper in her grandparents' store. Throughout the day, she watches as customers of all shapes and sizes and ages come and go. Anna Maria's jobs include keeping the rows of vegetables neat, sorting out the bread, and stirring the pot of vegetables for Nonna Rosa as she makes dinner. Her keen observations provide the textual backdrop for Laura Beingessner's charming illustrations. The artist has used bold colours for her lovingly detailed pictures and done a splendid job of evoking the urban environment that (one hopes) still continues to nourish small local businesses. As the publisher claims, Our Corner Grocery Store is indeed “a picture book that celebrates local shops and building communities.” Author Joanne Schwartz has written her story in the present tense, capturing Anna Maria's voice perfectly. Schwartz's experience as a children's librarian has surely proved a great asset in creating Our Corner Grocery Store. Young listeners will enjoy hearing the book read aloud as well as poring over the pictures to identify items found on the shelves of Nonna and Nonno's little shop. Given that Our Corner Grocery Store is Schwartz's first children's book, librarians, teachers and parents can look forward with some eagerness to her next endeavor. 2009, Tundra Books, Ages 4 to 7, $21.99. Reviewer: Valerie Nielsen (CM Magazine, November 21, 2008 (Vol. XV, No. 7)).
Two for the Zoo
Danna Smith
Illustrated by Valeria Petrone
A young boy and his grandfather spend the day together at the zoo. The book's cover and endpapers provide a foreshadowing of the animal to be encountered. During their visit to the zoological garden, they count the different animals. In this counting book from one to ten, there are rhythmic, rhyming verses that describe the boy's adventure. Colorful, cartoonlike pictures capture the day at the zoo and the different animals that they count, starting from one bear all the way up to ten wart hogs. The facial expressions and physical gestures of the boy show his thoughts about the different animals. He imitates the parrots and lions. His wide smile shows his joy of the penguins frolicking in the water. While on the other hand, the spiders cause him to clutch his grandfather's leg with fear. However, both the grandfather and the grandson share a delightful day at the zoo with wishes to return again for another visit someday. 2009, Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Ages 3 to 6, $16.00. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-5470-4982-3
ISBN: 0-5470-4982-X
Wiley & Grandpa's Creature Features: Jurassic Grampa
Kirk Scroggs
Rich with challenging vocabulary appropriate for the subject area, Jurassic Grampa maintains the reader's interest from beginning to end. Starting the hysterical and humorous adventure through Nostril Caverns, Wiley, Grandpa and the gang discover all types of prehistoric characteristics at the site. When Grandpa causes a large dinosaur egg to tumble down behind the group, they find themselves in the presence of Hans Lotion and his grandson, notorious criminals who obsessively talk with a “V” accent. The villains take Grandpa's treasured egg after surprising the group with the information that the egg is in fact a lump of dinosaur droppings. The next day at school Wiley presents one of his treasures found in the cave, Lupe the lizard, to the entire class. Lupe entertains the class and fascinates the teacher to the point that the students' science projects are put on hold to give the stunning lizard undivided attention. Suddenly Lupe transforms into a large intimidating T. Rex after nibbling on a “snack of Nature's Nuggets all-organic lizard pellets with actual bits of dried dragonflies.” Can anyone stop the T. Rex? Will Wiley figure out the cause for this strange pandemonium? Read and see. 2009, Little Brown Books for Young Readers/Hachette Book Group, Ages 9 to 12, $3.99. Reviewer: Erika Clark (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-316-00692-7
ISBN: 0-31-600692-0
For reviews of books on grandparents from previous years, click on the following links.
2008
2007
2006
2005
2002
2001
Updated 08/24/09
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