It's Good to Have a Grandma

June 1, 2019
This exploration of relationships between grandmothers and their grandchildren focuses on the extra time and patience grandmas have in abundance. Each smiling grandma is shown interacting with one or two grandkids, enjoying quiet activities at home such as baking or observing flowers or reading books in the backyard. Outside activities include shopping, outings to the beach and swimming pool, and a roller-coaster ride at an amusement park. The first-person text describes each type of activity in a calm, quiet style, reflecting the theme that time and patience are gifts of love. Each page or spread features a changing cast of grandmas and grandchildren, including many different racial representations. The grandmother in the cover illustration presents Asian while her grandson has light skin and blond hair and her granddaughter has brown skin and dark hair in afro puffs, opening the way for discussions about diverse family configurations. Some of the grandmas seem quite young, some have gray hair, and none appear to be slowing down in their physical abilities. Soft-focus illustrations do a fine job of creating personalities for the large cast of characters. A companion title, It's Good To Have a Grandpa, follows a similar structural pattern, although the focus is on having fun experiences with grandfathers. Though the word "love" is never used in the text, readers will see that these grandmas have it in abundance. (Picture book. 3-6)

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August 1, 2019

Toddler-PreS-These immensely charming books about the attributes of grandmas and grandpas covers a wide range of activities and personality traits. Many children will be able to find some connection with their own grandparents in the pages. Grandmas are patient and funny and don't mind if you spill things. Grandpas are always up for an adventure and full of jokes and like to watch your new tricks at the playground. Both grandmas and grandpas love to tell you stories about when they were young. Difficult topics are not brought up here, but they do both cover that sometimes grandparents live far away and that it's a real treat when grandchildren get to see them. Parents are not found in the pages, which positively keeps the focus solely on the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Burris's illustrations are fairly simple, but they do show many different kinds of families and focus on all of the fun things you can do together. VERDICT These books are full of the warmth and affection that grandparents carry for their grandchildren. Recommended for most picture book collections.-Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave Public Library, TX

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