Overview

A funny and eye-catching picture book, celebrating grannies of all shapes and sizes, and what makes them tick. Why do grandmas tell us to speak slowly? Why do grandmas wear their hair up? Are grandmas flexible? How do you cheer up a grandma? And why do they always have creases on their faces? Children have lots of questions about grannies and Éric Veillé sets out to answer them all with humour and charm in this contemporary picture book for the extended family – how they wear their hair, how they do yoga, how they travel the world, their wise sayings, their knitting. Each page is dedicated to a quirky topic and combines to make a highly original encyclopedia for children; from buses – no one knows where grannies go – to the contents of a granny’s bed - sighs, regrets and sometimes a grandpa. Illustrated with funny comic-style pictures, this is a contemporary gift book full of word play, for the entire family to enjoy. With witty and bright graphic illustrations, this encyclopedia challenges the cliches and celebrates the grannies in our lives – no matter what kind of grandma, abuela, nana or nonna you have, you are or would like to be.  Inside every granny, there’s a small house, and in that house is that same granny when she was a little girl.  That’s where she still lives. A chic gift book that will appeal to all ages. Fantastic to give to grandparents, new grandmothers, for Mother’s Day, or as a celebratory gift for the entire family. Translated from the French by Daniel Hahn.

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9781776572434

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Reviews

This book is a fun read, one you would imagine reading together with your own Nana, Oma, Abuela or Nonna. * CBCA: Reading Time * With a tongue placed firmly in the cheek, this overview of what to expect from a grandmother will encourage howls of recognition alongside surprises for the unwary as a huge array of behaviours are attributed to the grandmothers of the world. * ReadPlus *

This book would make a special gift -- Kathryn Beilby * Readplus * This book is a fun read, one you would imagine reading together with your own Nana, Oma, Abuela or Nonna. * CBCA: Reading Time * With a tongue placed firmly in the cheek, this overview of what to expect from a grandmother will encourage howls of recognition alongside surprises for the unwary as a huge array of behaviours are attributed to the grandmothers of the world. * ReadPlus *

An encyclopedic, humorous study of grannies, expressed through a series of questions that most readers would have never even thought of posing. Even though this book has heavy stock pages and thick board covers, it is anything but a board book for babies. Indeed, certain levels of maturity and sophistication are required of readers to fully appreciate this whimsical approach to grannies. Questions such as 'How flexible are grannies?'; 'Why do grannies travel on buses?'; and ...exactly how old are grannies?' are answered with cartoon illustrations and clever humor. For example, in the first scenario, a granny is depicted performing some admirably flexible exercises indeed. The second is answered with an acknowledgment that they are often seen on buses and an honest 'But nobody knows where they go.' In the third, three spry-looking grannies pose as the text states: 'Some grannies are 58...some are 69...and some are even 87!' Originally published in French, the text in Hahn's translation ably incorporates rhyme ('slippers' / 'flippers') and puns ('And when it's time to rest, they slip on some Grans N' Roses...'). Grannies are depicted in all sorts of outfits, hairdos, and hair colors, and a list of granny nicknames includes some ethnically specific ones, but all are white as the paper they are printed on. An offbeat look at modern-day grannies that is bound to elicit a chuckle or two. --Kirkus Reviews --Journal

'Celebrating Grandparents, New Picture Books for Young Readers and Listeners' By Daryl Grabarek Grandparents loom large in young children's lives, and titles featuring these beloved family members are particularly welcome, including such favorites as Helen E. Buckley's Grandmother and I and her Grandfather and I. Consider these new titles to update your storytime programming or displays as holidays and Grandparent's Day (the first Sunday after Labor Day) near. . . . There is more to a granny than at first meets the eye. As shown on the first page of this book, children have many questions about grannies: How old is a granny? How flexible is a granny? And, why do grannies have creases? To name just a few. Guided by a helpful feline friend, readers can find answers to many of these inquiries in the selected articles of this 'encyclopedia.' Each page is devoted to one consideration about grannies, beginning with a brief introduction followed by an illustration and word bubbles to augment the discussion. Fans of Veille will recognize his iconic illustrative style and sense of humor, expertly translated from the original French. The text often includes quirky phrases and ideas that are directed more to the adults reading this book than to children, though youngsters will appreciate the bug-eyed, zany character depictions. Bound by thick cardboard covers that protect thicker-than-average matte pages within, this high quality production is designed for longevity. VERDICT This book is a comic exploration to share with families of lighthearted grannies of all kinds. --School Library Journal --Journal An encyclopedic, humorous study of grannies, expressed through a series of questions that most readers would have never even thought of posing. Even though this book has heavy stock pages and thick board covers, it is anything but a board book for babies. Indeed, certain levels of maturity and sophistication are required of readers to fully appreciate this whimsical approach to grannies. Questions such as 'How flexible are grannies?'; 'Why do grannies travel on buses?'; and ...exactly how old are grannies?' are answered with cartoon illustrations and clever humor. For example, in the first scenario, a granny is depicted performing some admirably flexible exercises indeed. The second is answered with an acknowledgment that they are often seen on buses and an honest 'But nobody knows where they go.' In the third, three spry-looking grannies pose as the text states: 'Some grannies are 58...some are 69...and some are even 87!' Originally published in French, the text in Hahn's translation ably incorporates rhyme ('slippers' / 'flippers') and puns ('And when it's time to rest, they slip on some Grans N' Roses...'). Grannies are depicted in all sorts of outfits, hairdos, and hair colors, and a list of granny nicknames includes some ethnically specific ones, but all are white as the paper they are printed on. An offbeat look at modern-day grannies that is bound to elicit a chuckle or two. --Kirkus Reviews --Journal

Author Information

Eric Veillé was born in 1976 in Laval and studied at the Duperré School in Paris. While working as an artistic director in publishing, he decided one spring day to devote himself to writing and children’s book illustration. He has since released many books, as author and illustrator, including My Pictures after the Storm and The Bureau of Misplaced Dads.

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