grandparents

Review: Keeping Safe the Stars by Sheila O’Connor

| Tasha

keeping safe the stars

Keeping Safe the Stars by Sheila O’Connor

Pride and her two younger siblings, Nightingale and Baby, live with their grandfather, Old Finn.  They live on a remote property that Old Finn calls Eden.  But when Old Finn enters the hospital and is then transferred to Duluth for more serious treatment, it is left to Pride to care for her family.  She had been taught by Old Finn not to rely on charity from others, so she makes sure to not accept help that she can’t pay for.  She also knows that if anyone finds out that they are alone at Eden except for Miss Addie, an elderly woman who lives on the property but can’t care for them, they will be taken into foster care.  The three children had already been in care when their mother died, before Old Finn came and rescued them.  But even on their remote property, there are people who notice that something is wrong in Eden.  The question is whether Pride can keep her huge secret until Old Finn returns or not.

O’Connor is the author of Sparrow Road, which was one of my favorite middle school reads the year it came out.  She manages to write books that are ideal for tweens but read more like teen books, with pressing issues and serious consequences.  She populates her novels with remarkable characters, adult and child alike.  The three siblings here are all unique and read like human beings with their own points of view on everything that happens.  Seeing it all through Pride’s eyes is an important part of the story, offering her specific viewpoint and moxie about the entire situation.

Historical fiction, set during the Nixon resignation, this book is about the strength of family, resilience and the power of sheer determination.  At the same time, it is also about community and the importance of all of us being connected as neighbors and as a larger people.  O’Connor’s writing is beautifully done, gliding and light as life tumbles by unstoppable. 

A great pick for middle grade readers, this is the story of an unforgettable family.  Appropriate for ages 10-12.

Reviewed from copy received from G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Review: Grammy Lamby and the Secret Handshake by Kate Klise

| Tasha

grammy lamby

Grammy Lamby and the Secret Handshake by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise

Larry wasn’t very excited when his grandmother came to visit.  She invented a secret handshake for the two of them on the very first time she visited.  The three squeezes meant “I love you.”  His grandma also loved to talk and sew, and that’s what she did much of the time she spent at their house.  When they went to church, Grammy Lamby wore a big hat and sang louder than anyone else.  She even had big plans for trips they would take together when Larry was older.  But Larry didn’t want to go anywhere with Grammy Lamby.  The next time Grammy Lamby visited, a storm blew into town and tore a hole in their roof.  Grammy Lamby sprang into action, fixing and hammering.  It was a whole new grandma from Larry’s perspective.  And a whole new hero for him to admire.

The Klise sisters have created a winning picture book here.  The hesitance of a child with a relative their don’t see often is captured very cleverly here.  The way it is approached honors both of the people in the relationship:  Larry is cautious and overwhelmed and Grammy Lamby is friendly and trying very hard to be liked.  The use of an emergency to have the two of them come together works well, allowing Grammy to display her real skills and character.

The illustrations have a warmth to them that is wonderful.  They have small details that invite readers to linger a bit yet are large enough to work with a group. 

A great addition to story times about grandparents, this would also make a good present for any long-distance grandparent to give.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Henry Holt and Company.

Review: The Roller Coaster Kid by Mary Ann Rodman

| Tasha

roller coaster kid

The Roller Coaster Kid by Mary Ann Rodman, illustrated by Roger Roth

Zach loves spending time in the summer with his grandparents.  They go to the beach, fly kites, find shells, and go to Oceanside Park.  The only thing Zach doesn’t like there is the rollercoaster.  He waits in line with Grandpa but then always changes his mind at the last moment.  Instead, he rides the Big Wheel with his grandmother.  Zach knows that the next time, he will be able to ride the rollercoaster.  But the next time he visits, everything is different: his grandmother is no longer there.  His grandfather is not like he used to be at all.  Zach knows one thing that is sure to cheer up his grandfather, and that’s the rollercoaster.  But will Zach be able to ride it this one, very important, time?

Rodman tells this story with clarity and gentleness.  It’s a story of the deep connection between grandparents and grandchildren and how that connection can help with grief.  It is also a story of bravery thanks to love.  Children will relate to the connection with grandparents, though the jolly cover may not warn parents that this is a story of loss. 

Roth’s illustrations have a subtle vintage quality to them, something that hearkens back to yesteryear though it is solidly set in the modern day.  The illustrations of Zach on the rollercoaster are wonderful, showing the fear, the doubt and finally the exhilaration. 

A roller coaster book that shows the roller coaster ride of life as well, this book addresses the loss of a grandparent with a shining heart.  Appropriate for ages 5-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Viking.

Review: How to Babysit a Grandpa by Jean Reagan

| Tasha

how to babysit a grandpa

How to Babysit a Grandpa by Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish

Done in the format of a how-to guide, this book takes a warm and cheerful look at a grandparent coming to babysit.  Except in this book, the child thinks that he is the babysitter.  He tells you how to stay quiet when you are hiding from your grandpa and what to feed your grandpa (hint: it involves a lot of ice cream and cookies).  Then there are walks to take, entertainment to provide, and lots of playing together.  When your grandpa finally announces naptime, it’s time for his nap.  Get him a long book to read, and he will be asleep in no time.  But since you are the babysitter, you have to stay awake.  You can wake up your grandpa later, help tidy the room, and then get ready for your parents to return.  Make sure you have some parting gifts for your grandpa, since he’s sure to miss you a lot.

What could have been an overly-sentimental picture book is taken to a sweet and comfortable level thanks to Reagan’s use of the how-to format.  I also appreciated that the little boy in the story did not use any of his advice to be naughty.  Instead, he took his duties very seriously.  Reagan’s writing has a great playful quality to it.  It is also writing that reads aloud very nicely, thanks to its light touch.

Wildish’s illustrations have a humor to them that adds to the book.  When the book says in a straight-forward tone that on a walk in the cold, grandpas need to be bundled up, she shows us a grandpa so very bundled that he cannot move.  In sun grandpas need sunscreen, and the image shows the boy emptying a bottle of sunscreen onto his grandpa’s head.  Small silly touches that really make the book fun.

A great book for grandparents to bring to share with their grandchildren, this would also make a great additional to a story time about grandparents.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Alfred A. Knopf.

Review: Kindred Souls by Patricia MacLachlan

| Tasha

kindred souls

Kindred Souls by Patricia MacLachlan

Billy has lived on the farm his entire life.  He was raised in the sod house that is now tumbled down and covered by weeds.  Billy is the center of his grandson Jake’s world, especially their walks around the farm together.  Jake gets to see the farm through Billy’s eyes and spend time as his kindred soul.  When Billy gets sick, Jake isn’t worried.  He knows that Billy will live forever.  There’s only one wish that Billy has ever spoken about and that is having another sod house built on the farm.  As Billy recuperates in the hospital, Jake and his older brother and sister decide to build a house for him.  But the job is huge and Billy is coming home soon.  Can they pull off the special surprise?

MacLachlan excels at creating great depth in small packages.  This is another of her very short books that plunges readers into a family and immediately takes up space in your heart.  There is the beauty of a long life lived on a farm that is almost spiritual.  There is a young family that has an elder as their center.  And then there are the small moments that create their days and weave together a story that is bittersweet in the best way.

This small book looks at the role of grandparents in the lives of children in a quiet yet powerful way.  Billy is the center of the book, since he is the center of Jake’s world.  The book, told in the first person by Jake, also explores connections between generations that are strong and true.  The sense of kindred spirits is strong but never overplayed.  This entire book exudes a quiet strength that makes for a compelling read.

A strong book that would make a great read-aloud (especially by grandparents), this book is a beauty.  Appropriate for ages 7-9.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: Love, Mouserella by David Ezra Stein

| Tasha

love mouserella

Love, Mouserella by David Ezra Stein

Mouserella misses her grandmother.  She had to go back to the country, and Mouserella lives in the city.  So her mother suggested she write a letter, and she did!  The pages are filled with drawings, photographs, and plenty of great details.  Though Mouserella doesn’t think there is much to share, she actually finds lots of everyday things to talk about: creating seed parachutes, visiting a museum, experiencing a blackout, and playing with her brother.  The story is jolly and warm, filled with homey details, a loving family and the joys of the small things in life.

Stein’s writing and art here create a harmonious whole.  The writing is winningly child-like and wandering.  Mouserella’s voice is clear and personal throughout, creating a solid base for the book.  Stein then embellishes the book with art that ranges from Mouserella’s drawings to photographs of her world.  The combination of crayon art with Stein’s own more realistic but still whimsical art makes for a striking read.

This warm, wonderful picture book will be enjoyed by grandmothers and grandchildren alike.  It is a perfect accompaniment to letter writing units or story times about grandparents.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Penguin Young Readers Group.

Also reviewed by A Year of Reading.

Review: Your Moon, My Moon by Patricia MacLachlan

| Tasha

your moon my moon

Your Moon, My Moon by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Brian Collier

In her signature poetic text, MacLachlan has created a picture book that celebrates the continued connection between family members who are apart.  Here, a grandmother lives in a cold area of the world, while her grandchild lives far away in Africa.  She watches the snow start to fall while he is in the hot sun.  She wishes they were together to ice skate or together to swim in the lake where he lives.  There are many things that connect them, from the dogs in both places to the sun, but especially the moon, which shines on them both.

MacLachlan weaves two very different places together into one story filled with a poignancy and longing but also a story of love and connection.  For both settings, she pulls the best out of them, celebrating their differences and their similarities at the same time with great skill.  She invites us into memories, special moments, and also into the day-to-day of lives. 

Collier’s illustrations elevate this book further.  Their watercolor and collage use the color of the light to great effect as it moves from African gold to the cool of a northern winter.  People of all colors fill the pages, making it feel all the more inclusive and global.  Collier also uses lines to great effect, sometimes swirling and creating color or intensity changes in the illustrations, otherwise showing currents, mountains or forest. 

Beautifully written and illustrated, this book may be specifically about grandparents and grandchildren, but could also be used for any adult being away from a child they love.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Book Review: Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

| Tasha

grandpa green

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

Released August 30, 2011.

Grandpa Green was born long ago.  He grew up on a farm, got chicken pox in fourth grade, and kissed a girl in middle school.  Though he wanted to be a horticulturist, he ended up going to war.  There he met his future wife, whom he married when the war ended.  Now Grandpa Green is getting old and starting to forget things.  But he doesn’t forget the most important things, because the garden keeps his memories for him.

Smith has created an amazing world in the pages of this book.  It is a place where a man brings his memories to life through topiary, each one more inventive and beautiful than the next.  Smith has kept his words simple.  Just enough to move the story forward.

It is the pictures that tell the story here.  Smith has lightened the characters down to line drawings and subtle color.  The topiaries are a vivid green, bursting with life against the white of the page.  Grandpa’s memories are more solid than the real world, which works beautifully with the story.  The topiaries are whimsical and gorgeous, shown as the little boy moves through the garden and interacts with them.  There is one amazing page with the boy hanging from a branch of a giant tree where the leaves turn from green to autumn to bare branches as the eye moves across the tree.  It is a visual of aging that works beautifully.

This is a creative and entrancing picture book that brings memories to green life, celebrates a great-grandfather, and shows the relationship between him and his great-grandson.  It is a triumph of a picture book!  One of my favorites of the year, and one that should be under consideration for a Caldecott.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from copy received from Roaring Brook Press.

Also reviewed by Shelf Awareness.

Check out the trailer that almost catches the charm of the book:

Book Review: Ladder to the Moon by Maya Soetoro-Ng

| Tasha

laddertothemoon

Ladder to the Moon by Maya Soetoro-Ng, illustrated by Yuyi Morales

One evening Suhaila asked her mother what her Grandma Annie was like.  Her mother replied that her grandmother was like the moon, “full, soft and curious.”  She also told Suhaila that she had her grandmother’s hands.  At bedtime that night, Suhaila wondered what other ways she was like her grandmother.  Later that same night, a golden ladder appeared at her window and on the lowest rung her grandmother was waiting for her.  Together the two of them climbed the ladder to the moon.  The two sat on the moon together, listening.  Below on earth, they heard voices calling.  When they looked, they found children trapped by a flood and invited them to come to the moon to safety.  They rescued two young women from an earthquake.  They continued to help people to the moon, filling it with people who needed healing, needed love.  Until it was time for Suhaila to head back home to her own bed and tell her mother that she had gotten to meet Grandma Annie.

Soetoro-Ng was inspired by her own mother, Ann Dunham, also the mother of President Obama.  This book sings with admiration for the power of love and healing.  It’s a magical book that shows the power of one person and the impact they can have.  The book dances to its own beat, sometimes taking an unusual step here or there, but creating as a whole, something beautiful.

Morales’ illustrations are glorious.  From the very first image of the daughter and mother together under an immense moon where the brush strokes form the breeze in the air, the reader knows this is something special.  Morales skillfully blends all types of people into the story, different ages, different colors.  Most impressive is the illustration where different peoples share their stories, each with a glowing phrase in different languages around their heads.  The light is warm firelight, candles and also the clear white of the moon. 

A beautiful book that will work as a way to talk about shared beliefs across nationalities and faiths, it is also a testament to the power of grandparents in the child’s life.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Candlewick Press.

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