The Truth About Grandparents

June 1, 2019
A child narrates the stereotypical view of grandparents as boring old people opposite a very different visual portrayal. Though they may look over the hill, with "wrinkly faces, a little bit of hair, and funny teeth," this set of grandparents is anything but. They are far from "not much fun," "slow," "clumsy," and "not bendy"; rather, with their grandchild, they go on daring roller-coaster rides, enjoy the roller rink, do yoga, play in a lively jazz band, dance, and take part in nighttime stargazing. Instead of being set in their ways, they embrace technology. While the child's words state the negative, unflattering assumptions about their elderly status, the comical cartoon illustrations reflect quite the reverse. After the child states, "Someone told me grandparents are SCARED of new things," readers see the threesome on the couch, each enjoying their own screen time. An energetic boogying scene follows a declaration that grandparents don't dance, and the couple's loving smooch squashes the statement, "they definitely don't care for ROMANCE." A lanky, jovial grandpa parallels his plump, equally happy wife, demonstrating life in hip and creative ways. Both grandparents and grandchild are white. The endpapers tell a nostalgic story of today's boomers with a pen-and-ink sketch of a cluttered garage filled with travel and sporting mementos. Contemporary grandparents may enjoy this positive read even more than the children they read it to. (Picture book. 5-8)

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September 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 3-While a young boy admits that his grandparents are "really old" with "wrinkly faces, a little bit of hair, and funny teeth," the things he's heard about old people just don't align. The cover, which features the child, dog, granny, and grandad jumping barefoot on a trampoline says it all. In this perfect marriage of text and illustrations, each spread dispels another myth about the aged. "NOT MUCH FUN" shows the narrator sandwiched between his grands on a riotous roller coaster; "SLOW..." has them skateboarding and roller skating downhill; "NOT BENDY" pictures them in a yoga class; "SCARED of new things..." shows the boy and Grandpa playing a video game while Grandma is engrossed with her laptop. And "...they definitely don't care for ROMANCE" shows the couple sharing a tender kiss. Grandson concludes that he "...knows the truth...Grandparents are...AMAZING!" The illustrations, rendered in pen, ink, gouache, and photoshop, depict a short, round grandma with red dress and shoes and a tall, thin balding grandpa with suspenders and bow tie while the short, stout tyke seems to favor gran. The little brown dog adds to the fun, growling at a robo-pet, dancing with abandon or hiding under a pillow from the loud music. The endpapers show a vibrant household cluttered with African masks, suitcases, sports equipment, books, and family photos. VERDICT A delightful read-aloud that celebrates grandparents and the special bond they share with their grandchildren.-Barbara Auerbach, Cairo Public Library, NY

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