When I Was a Pirate by Tom Silson
You can take When I Was a Pirate with you can take this book with a shot of rum and coke and say it is a true whale of a tail. Or you can believe that the grandfather has had some far out times in his life. I mean, does the grandfather in the story tell the truth? Was he a grand old pirate in his youth? (Tattoos seem to confirm this.) Or is he just diving deep into a bit of exaggeration? I would […]
Gigi and Ojiji by Melissa Iwai
I find it amusing when I want to review an early/easy reader. After all, it is funny that a book that probably has less than 250 words needs a review of 250 words. Gigi and Ojiji by Melissa Iwai has a lot going on in it. There is the daughter/mother relationship. There is the granddaughter/grandfather relationship. And there is the culture relationship. You learn Gigi is biracial (Japanese mother, white father) by just seeing it. There is no HEY LOOK! I AM DIFFERENT yelling off […]
The Sour Cherry Tree by Naseem Hrab
When I first saw The Sour Cherry Tree by Naseem Hrab, I thought it was going to be an Asian folktale. Instead, this lovely story of a granddaughter saying goodbye to a beloved grandfather is a realistic story with Arabic characters. But the great part is, it is relatable no matter your background. Anyone with a grandparent that maybe you did not have a terrible close relationship with but had a very special one will understand how the young girl feels the day she learns […]
When We Were Alone by David Alexander Robertson
Grandpa’s Girls by Nicola I. Campbell
Both books are very different but have the common thread of having a Native American influence, or backdrop. These would be great books to add to any collection. They both are fabulous examples of the meaning of friendship. I preferred When We Were Alone more than Grandpa’s Girls for several reasons. One reason I enjoyed it was the serious tone of the book. This might turn some people off, but even then, David Alexander Robertson has infused a great hopefulness as well. When We Were […]
Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate
I use the phrase “cozy read” a lot, but Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate is a cozy read. Even if it is not always a happy read. You could substitute any gender of the two grandfathers of the story, and you have “this” story, as the loss of a spouse or partner is universal. Everyone will grieve, everyone will remember the connections they had. I enjoyed how everything is just “normalized” and not “in your face” about the subject. The two grandfathers of the child […]
Grandpa Grumps by Katrina Moore
My Day With Gong Gong by Sennah Yee
In these two books, we see granddaughters who are not that close to a grandfather. Or at least, not at first due to the generation and language gaps they face. In Grandpa Grumps and My Day with Gong Gong two young granddaughters have problems trying to connect with their grandfathers as both grandfather’s English is limited, and Daisy and May have limited Chinese. But both learn that no matter the gaps they are facing, what can overcome that is the language of family and love. […]
