Grandma's Purse

October 1, 2017
Treasure could be hiding in the most surprising places.When grandma Mimi visits her young granddaughter, the story's narrator, the stylish black woman's huge purse provides endless opportunities for play. The little black girl imagines herself bejeweled and bedazzled with grandma Mimi's finery. Lipstick, hairpins, sunglasses, and candy are but a few of the riches stashed deep within the bag of possibilities, which she explores while engaged in an animated conversation about what she finds with her grandma. Brantley-Newton, a self-taught illustrator whose artwork is a combination of drawing, painting, and digital work, creates a whimsical interplay of patterns, rich color, and her trademark lively expressions. Grandma Mimi's purse itself is a patchwork of colors and patterns, and buried within it are objects of various sizes, some that sparkle and others that are soft and silky--a beautiful visual melange. Grandma Mimi wears big, round spectacles and has a towering, white Afro, while the narrator pairs her lacy top with jeans--it's easy to see she gets her sense of fashion from her grandma. While the storytelling falters slightly and lacks nuance, the straightforward sweetness of the tale more than makes up for it.The magic of grandparents is undeniable, and this book is an excellent treat for grandkids to share with their own grandmas and grandpas, or the other way around. (Picture book. 4-7)

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November 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-A little African American girl eagerly awaits her grandma Mimi's arrival, because when Grandma comes, there is always a treasure in her purse! This visit is no different. With each item she removes from the purse comes an explanation from Grandma about how that item will come in handy ("You never know what you'll want to have with you!") or a bit about its sentimental value ("This coin purse holds my coins, of course, but it also holds memories"). Brantley-Newton's vividly colorful images paint the happiness the little girl feels in her grandmother's presence. By story's end, the child has taken everything out of grandma's purse and either tried it on or played with it, except for that very last thing in the bottom of the purse that has the girl's name on it! That special gift could lead to another book about this delightful family, or at least, we can hope so. This grandmother confidently seems to impart self-confidence and style to her granddaughter. VERDICT A strong intergenerational choice for any picture book collection.-Jennifer Steib Simmons, Anderson County Library, SC

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2017
Preschool-G A small black girl excitedly awaits the arrival of her grandma Mimi, who brings her large, colorful purse, full of treasures and surprises. Warmth and love spread over the pages as the two enjoy their time together. The purse is not magical, but it seems that way to the girl as Mimi shares her lipstick, perfume, hairpins, sunglasses, earrings, scarf, candy, and phone. A beautifully decorated change purse prompts Mimi to recall the story of how the girl's grandfather brought it back from Japan, and a stack of family photos reminds them of other happy memories. The little girl wants to be just like Mimi, as she tries on and tries out each item. The best thing is found at the bottom of the amazing pocketbook. Removing the gaily wrapped package, the little girl discovers a smaller purse just for her, ready to hold all of her unique supplies. Gouache, charcoal pencil, and digital tools create an exuberant melange of brightly colored, cheerful images, perfectly matched to the cheerful tone of the intergenerational story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)