Zero Grandparents: A Jackson Friends Book

Jackson Friends

by Michelle Edwards

Mrs. Fennessey's second-grade class is planning a big celebration for Grandparents Day, and everyone's really excited about it- everyone except for Calliope James. Her best friends, Howie and Pa Lia, are bringing their grandmas. Even Stinky Stern's grandpa is coming. But Calliope's grandparents are no longer alive. How can she celebrate Grandparents Day without a grandparent?

In the second book of the Jackson Friends series, Michelle Edwards offers an ingenious solution to this emotional dilemma and provides an honest and insightful look at the challenges faced by children every day.

Genres: Fiction, Picture Books

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Samantha Penrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a little girl who becomes disheartened at the idea of having a "grandparents day" at school because she has no grandparents to bring. I liked it. The book did a good job of illustrated the uncomfortable feelings that we sometimes have when we feel sad, or out of place. The main character feels fidgety, nervous and uncomfortable when the subject of grandparents day comes up, but in the end she finds a classy, honorable way to deal with her problom and join in the fun on grandparents day.

[Allie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was real tough to read knowing Stinky Stern is gonna die in book 4, especially given the back matter! She introduced each kid, included their likes and dislikes and said in which book you can read more about them. For Stinky she wrote, "Read more about Stinky in... Hang on a minute. Does Stinky deserve a book? You'll have to wait and see!" CRUEL. I think it's genuinely cruel to introduce a main character and get kids invested just to abruptly kill him off. I understand that is how life works, but there are so so so so so so so many better ways fiction can deal with grief and character death.

There are parts of this book that are sweet, but the writing is so clunky (even for a beginning reader) that it falls totally flat. Again, the illustrated feel extremely dated and look absolutely atrocious. Yikes!

[Helen-Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amusing true to elementary school story, older but still a book kids would enjoy. I certainly liked it.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Calliope James finds out that Grandparents Day at school is approaching she is not excited like the her fellow classmates. Her Grandparents have all died and being the only student without a grandparent sounded down right depressing. When she reflects about stories she has heard about her mother's mother, a women she never personally knew, she thinks of a way to share a bit about her with the class in a very touching way.

[Josie Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is grandparent day at school and the main character doesn't have any living grandparents. Her friends are willing to share their grandparents but she declines their offers. The main character solves this for herself in a wonderful tribute to a grandma that she didn't know, yet discovers that she has much in common with.

[Sara]

Calliope doesn't have any grandparents to bring in when it is grandparents day at her school.Her parents say to Calliope,"I could come in for grandparents day".But Calliope says she wants real grandparents to come in and introduce them selves to the class.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beginning chapter book--good for 1st and 2nd grade level. I skimmed through this with the idea of reading one of the chapters for Book Time. Instead, I book talked it. Cute story. Very good for children who have had grandparents pass away.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average early chapter book. Cute message. Henry and I read this on September 8th for Grandparents' Day.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of those ways a kid can stand outside the rest, this was a great book in dealing w/the subject.