Synopsis
Do you sew with your Abuelita, look at the stars with your MeMaw, or ride waves at the beach with your Bubbe? No matter what name you call your grandma, one thing is for sure: it's always fun to spend time with the one you love—who loves you right back.
Ashley Wolff's musical text and colorful collage artwork pay tribute to the special bond between children and their grandmothers.
Children's Literature
When the teacher's Chinese grandmother visits her class, the teacher asks each student to draw a picture of his or her grandmother, explain what they like to do together and what "grandma" is called. Students in this multicultural classroom share names from other languages as well as their own creative terms of endearment. Colorful collage illustrations with interesting details show a child and grandmother engaged in an activity. Some are seen indoors folding paper cranes, sewing, cooking, and playing with a wooden train set. Others are outdoors engaged in bird-watching, swimming, watching the stars, and planting a garden. One child has a substitute grandmother next door because her own grandmother lives so far away. Another child has four grandmothers. Interesting details in the illustrations will engage the young listener. The rhyming text reflects the celebratory mood. What is especially nice about this is that it is not just a listing of names but it also shows the individuality of grandmothers and their interests. The inside back cover includes "Some Grandmother Names from around the World" and there is a second list of some of the author's favorite names. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo