My Grandpa Is the Best!

October 1, 2022

PreS-Gr 3-Grandfathers come in all shapes and sizes, with the one thing they have in common being the love they have for their grandchildren. From enjoying a fun tea party to offering comfort during a scary roller coaster, their love is shown through rhyme and rhythm in this book of poetry. Each spread includes a brightly colored cartoon picture of a grandchild and grandfather engaging in activities, such as enjoying a meal while grandfather proudly displays his grandchild's A+ spelling quiz, hiking, dancing, reading a favorite book, eating ice cream, and more. Along with each illustration is a poem that shares about the fun activity the grandfather and grandchild are taking part in with more detail, typically using an ABAC, ABCB, or AABB rhythm with no more than eight lines. The grandparents and grandchildren featured are different for each poem, with a few showing up for more than one. Many races and family situations are depicted; in one instance, grandparents video conference on a laptop to see their family and say good morning, even though it is evening where they live. VERDICT This short and refreshing collection of the love of family is a worthy purchase for poetry and family-focused collections, due to the diversity of grandfathers and experiences depicted.-Molly Dettmann

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