I Love My Glam-ma!

July 1, 2019
Grandmas come in all shapes, sizes, and races in this up-to-date portrait of grandmothers as young-at-heart, active participants in the lives of their grandchildren. The story begins with an introduction to different names for grandmothers, including Abuela, Bubbe, and Oma before introducing Glam-ma--a term that may need further explanation beyond the text for some children, as "glamorous" isn't a term in regular use by the intended audience. Different grandmas are introduced interacting with grandchildren in all sorts of activities ranging from dress-up play and cooking to karate class and attending a rock concert. The implication in the brief, bouncy text is that attitude is everything and that all these grandmothers are hip, happy, and healthy. Some of the grandmas are quite young, unusual in children's books but a demographically realistic depiction, while others have gray or white hair (but nary a wrinkle). Characters with a wide range of skin tones are represented, including a cover illustration of a white grandma playing dress-up with her brown-skinned grandchildren. One grandmother uses a wheelchair and two use canes, though the canes don't seem to be actually needed for support but rather for artistic effect. Bright, appealing watercolor illustrations are filled with expressive faces, lots of motion, and clever details for kids to find. Grandmothers with both guts and glamour are sadly underrepresented; these Glam-mas will win lots of fans. (Picture book. 3-6)

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September 9, 2019
“Everyone knows grandmothers go by many names,” begins Berger. “But MAYBE they should really be called ‘Glam-MA.’ Because Grandmas are some of the most glamorous people you’re ever gonna meet.” What follows is a most joyful celebration of bubbes, nanas, grams, omas, and abuelas that reveres the extra flair they bring to just about everything: “Glam-MAS don’t just come over... they make a grand entrance”; “Glam-MAS don’t follow recipes. They follow their instincts... and let you follow yours.” Rim’s drawings echo the simple lines of fashion illustration, incorporating colors, patterns, and textures that add depth and energy to each page. Together, the artwork and narrative fold in a range of grandmothers, most in Western dress (one rolls in a wheelchair, pushed by a skateboarding child; another attends a rock-and-roll show) and offer the special kind of excitement brought on by a visit from a beloved grandparent. A jubilant and loving ode to grandmothers of every stripe. Ages 3–5.