Grandparents for All Seasons

Celebrating the continuing trend toward portraying older people as vital, vibrant influences on the lives of the young, here is the best of this year’s bounty of children’s books about grandparents:

BRRR! (written and illustrated by James Stevenson; Greenwillow Books: $13.95, ages 4 and up) is the 12th hilarious romp featuring Grandpa and his little brother Wainey by that master of the tall tale and New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. When Mary Ann and Louie complain about how cold it is one snowy day, Grandpa proceeds to tell them about the winter of 1908: “ That was cold.” How cold? So cold his little brother Wainey’s sneeze froze . Stevenson’s zany text and loosely rendered, richly suggestive watercolors make for great bedtime reading.

Abuela (by Arthur Dorros, illustrated by Elisa Kleven; E. P. Dutton: $13.95, ages 3-7), or “grandmother” in Spanish, is a flight of fancy about a young girl and her grandmother that introduces Spanish words and phrases in the skies above New York City. Energetic mixed-media illustrations and an imaginative story combine to evoke a tapestry of multicultural sights, sounds and influences.

Available again for the first time in many years, Pepito’s Story (written and illustrated by Eugene Fern; Yarrow Press, distributed by PGW: $14.95, ages 4-8), is the kind of book that reaches out and grabs you by the collar. Bold, expressive illustrations, extraordinary use of color and a superb text combine in this slim volume to create an emotional experience that is never forgotten.

A young boy who loves to dance, Pepito is ridiculed by other children. Only his grandmother understands and encourages him. Eventually his dancing saves the life of another lonely child, showing the power of friendship and the value of being different. This is a book that belongs in every child’s library.

In A Visit to Oma (written and illustrated by Marisabina Russo; Greenwillow Books: $13.95, ages 4-8) every Sunday Celeste goes to visit her great-grandmother, Oma, who speaks a language Celeste can’t understand. She listens quietly, making up her own story to accompany Oma’s animated expression and gestures. And what a racy imagination she has! Simple, colorful illustrations, decorative borders and an elegant typeface combine to match the mood of this sensitively crafted, heartfelt tale.

Meanwhile, on Sunday afternoons in Baltimore, two African-American sisters go to visit their great-great-aunt in Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) (by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard, illustrated by James Ransome; Clarion Books: $14.95, ages 4-8). Aunt Flossie’s home is filled with hats, and each hat has its own story which the children listen to with delight. An ingenious storytelling device, the hats also are an interesting comment on how certain objects come to embody memories themselves. Fun, mischief and the joy of life in both story and pictures.

Another intriguing approach to the passage of time can be found in Grandma’s Bill (by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Jane Johnson; Orchard Books: $12.95, ages 4-7), where, together with his grandmother, a young boy leafs through a photo album about his grandfather. Using very simple dialogue and pictures of family members as they grow and change, the author and illustrator accomplish the impressive feat of making the aging process comprehensible to a child. Humor and insight abound in this testimony to the power of images and the importance of family history and documentation.

Supergrandpa (by David Schwartz, illustrated by Bert Dodson; Lothrop, Lee & Shepard: $13.95, ages 4-9) is based on the true story of a 66-year-old Swedish grandfather who entered a 1,000-mile bicycle race around Sweden and came in first! A born storyteller, the author skillfully builds tension while sprinkling attractive details along the way. Sweeping panoramas spread across the wide, double-page format. A book that shatters stereotypes and encourages us to reach for our dreams.

In Grandpa’s Song (by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Brad Sneed; Dial Books: $12.95, ages 4-8) a rollicking text and lively illustrations (very much in the style of Thomas Hart Benton) combine to create a child’s-eye view of a real “kettledrum” of a grandpa. But even this giant of a man is not immune to “ice cream fumes” and the ravages of time. A story that captures both the joy and pathos expressed in the act of song.

Brother Eagle, Sister Sky (adapted and illustrated by Susan Jeffers; Dial Books: $14.95, all ages) is based on a speech given by the Northwest Indian Chief Seattle in the 1850s. An eloquent, beautifully rendered plea to preserve the environment, it also is in great part about respecting the Earth in terms of respecting one’s elders--who are now a part of the earth, just as we will be someday. Powerful, moving text, matched by pictures that want to leap off the page.

Not the Piano, Mrs. Medley! (by Evan Levine, illustrated by S. D. Schindler; Orchard Books: $14.95, ages 4-7) is a romp through one of childhood’s greatest perils: the overprepared grandmother. When Mrs. Medley decides to hit the beach one sunny afternoon, she takes her grandson Max, her dog Word and just about everything else in the house. Cheerfully cluttered illustrations match the tongue-in-cheek mood of this light-hearted tale.

My Grandmother’s Journey (by John Cech, illustrated by Sharon McGinley-Nally; Bradbury Press: $14.95, ages 4-9) explores the darker realms experienced by a grandmother during the war-torn times of the Russian Revolution and World War II. Yet throughout her perils there is always a sense of hope, symbolized by the birth and survival of her child, and radiant angels circling the page. Decorative borders and folk-art-style illustrations reflect the Eastern European flavor of the text and lend a festive, celebratory air to a triumph of the human spirit.

Go Fish (by Mary Stolz, illustrated by Pat Cummings; HarperCollins: $12.95, ages 7-11) is a lyrical meditation on a day in the life of 8-year-old Thomas and his grandfather. Together they spend their time reading, fishing, cooking and telling tales of their African heritage as images of fish, birds, cats and flowers spray across the page. A very appealing story that captures the playful interaction and lessons to be learned from rambunctious youth and ripe old age.

More books to consider:

Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs (written and illustrated by Tomie de Paola; G. P. Putnam’s Sons: $12.95, cloth; $3.95, paper; ages 3-8). The profoundly moving story of a young boy’s love and empathy for his invalid great-grandmother and grandmother who live in the same house.

Now One Foot, Now the Other (written and illustrated by Tomie de Paola; Putnam: $5.95, ages 4-9). Another gem by De Paola, this time the story of a young boy who is taught how to walk and talk by his grandfather. When the grandfather suffers a crippling stroke, it is the grandson who nurses him back to health, teaching his grandfather how to walk and talk again.

Emma (by Wendy Kesselman, illustrated by Barbara Cooney; HarperCollins: $4.95, ages 4-8). A great-grandmother finds new meaning in life and international acclaim after starting to paint at the age of 72.

A Beautiful Seashell (written and illustrated by Ruth Lercher Bornstein; HarperCollins: $12.95, ages 4-8). Rich pastel illustrations match a gentle story about a great-grandmother who comes to this country from across the ocean.

Thundercake (written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco; Philomel Books: $14.95, ages 4-8). A bustling tale of how a grandchild learns to overcome her fear of thunder while baking a cake.

Tales of a Gambling Grandma (written and illustrated by Dayal Kaur Khalsa; Clarkson Potter: $12.95, ages 4-9). Colorful and loving, Grandma also is a card shark, cleaning out friends and relatives wherever she goes.