FICTION

When a Grandpa Says "I Love You."

When a Grandpa Says "I Love You." illus. by Jennifer A. Bell. 32p. S. & S. Aug. 2014. Tr $16.00. ISBN 9780689815126. LC 2012047773.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—Showing love can be much more powerful than expressing it in words. Whether a granddad is teaching, sharing, watching, cheering, or keeping a child safe, it's important to understand that those activities reveal how deeply he cares. A variety of grandfather/grandchild scenarios, including squirrels, pandas, koalas, hippos, and owls all reveal the same thing: Grandpas love their grandchildren and communicate their love in a multitude of ways. Holding hands on a walk, teaching shoelace tying, showing and sharing a coin collection, playing old and new games, and dancing and reading together are a few of the examples displayed in Bell's joyful, softly hued pencil illustrations. With an "actions speak louder than words" theme, the grandfathers depicted here speak volumes and confirm the importance of spending quality time with their grandchildren. Similar in tone to the author's When a Dad Says "I Love You" (S. & S., 2013), this charming title celebrates intergenerational relationships.—Maryann H. Owen, Children's Literature Specialist, Mt. Pleasant, WI
Without saying the words, different animal grandpas express love for their grandchildren in many ways: tousling hair, winking, tying shoelaces, or "teaching you to throw a super-duper, screaming yellow zonker sinker ball." Rendered in pencil and finished digitally, cozy vignettes and double-page spreads highlight the special relationships between grandfathers and their grandchildren in this sentimental story.

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?