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Une idée pour Papi
Lou passe tous ses samedis avec Grand-Papa et Papi. Ils se rendent à la bibliothèque main dans la main, comme une guirlande de personnages en papier. Grand-Papa lit des livres sur la science et le design, Papi écoute des disques de rock and roll et Lou va de l’un à l’autre. Mais un jour, tout bascule. Papi fait une chute qui a des conséquences terribles: il sera confiné à un fauteuil roulant pour toujours, tout le temps. Incapable d’accepter son état, il se renferme et ne sort plus de sa chambre. En entendant Grand-Papa essayer d’égayer Papi, Lou a une idée. En utilisant des compétences qu’il a apprises de Grand-Papa et avec un peu d’aide des voisins, Lou élabore un plan pour Papi.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2019
4 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Heather Smith
14 books171 followersOriginally from Newfoundland, Heather Smith now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her husband and three children. Her Newfoundland roots inspire much of her writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
August 8, 2019
I really LOVED this story! A Plan for Pops follows Lou, who goes to visit Grandad and Pops each Saturday. The trio have a comfortable routine of eating breakfast together, then heading out to walk to the library.
Next it's time for lunch, then Lou listens to stories from Pop (until Pop dozes off)
before tinkering on inventions with Grandad.
Unfortunately, one Saturday, Pops takes a tumble as they're leaving to go to the library. His fall is serious enough that he'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Overcome with deep depression, Pops refuses to come out of his bedroom for weeks. During that time, Grandad and Lou come up with plans to help cheer Pop back up again.
What I love most about this story is that so many potentially "big" themes are tackled, but none are discussed in a blatant way. Grandad and Pops are a different kind of family, but no big deal is made about that -- they're just shown as a loving couple. They also each have very different interests, but it's clear that they complement each other well. There is never any doubt about their love for Lou and the enjoyment they get from his visits.
I also like that the story shows how Pops' withdrawal from daily life affects Grandad and Lou, but there is not some insta-fix to overcome his depression. It's a slow process, and I like how real that is.
5 very enthusiastic stars for this book -- I strongly recommend it for everyone who likes spending time with their grandparents.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing me with a DRC of this book.
Next it's time for lunch, then Lou listens to stories from Pop (until Pop dozes off)
before tinkering on inventions with Grandad.
Unfortunately, one Saturday, Pops takes a tumble as they're leaving to go to the library. His fall is serious enough that he'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Overcome with deep depression, Pops refuses to come out of his bedroom for weeks. During that time, Grandad and Lou come up with plans to help cheer Pop back up again.
What I love most about this story is that so many potentially "big" themes are tackled, but none are discussed in a blatant way. Grandad and Pops are a different kind of family, but no big deal is made about that -- they're just shown as a loving couple. They also each have very different interests, but it's clear that they complement each other well. There is never any doubt about their love for Lou and the enjoyment they get from his visits.
I also like that the story shows how Pops' withdrawal from daily life affects Grandad and Lou, but there is not some insta-fix to overcome his depression. It's a slow process, and I like how real that is.
5 very enthusiastic stars for this book -- I strongly recommend it for everyone who likes spending time with their grandparents.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing me with a DRC of this book.
February 19, 2019
Ah, j'aime beaucoup ce petit livre doux! Dans cette histoire nous trouvons Lou, un petit enfant qui visit ses grands-pères chaque samedi. Les deux hommes sont très different, mais leur amour l'un pour autre et Lou est très clair.
Chaque semaine ils commencent leur routine avec le petit dejueuner. Grand-Papa a de la toast avec confiture. Papi mange des céréales colourées. Lou prend un peu de le deux. Grand-Papa lit la section technologie de le journal et Papi regarde les bandes dessinées. Lou joue avec les parasols en papier que Papi mis dans les verres de jus.
Après avoir mangé, ils vont tous à la bibliothèque, puis rentrer chez eux pour le déjeuner. Dans l'après-midi, Papi écoute de la musique pendant Lou et Grand-Papa bricolent avec leur inventions.
Malheureusement, une samedi, Papi tombe comme ils partent pour aller à la bibliothèque. Il est très blesse, et il apprend qu'il sera toujours en fauteuil roulant toujours. Après ça, Papi n'est pas la même. Touts les temps il est triste et il refuse de quitter sa chambre.
Grand-Papa et Lou peuvent-ils trouver un moyen de faire revivre la joie de Papi? Ne t'inquiète pas -- Lou pense qu'il a une idée!
Merci beaucoup à NetGalley et Orca Book Publishers de m'avoir donné à l'avance une copie numérique de ce livre.
Chaque semaine ils commencent leur routine avec le petit dejueuner. Grand-Papa a de la toast avec confiture. Papi mange des céréales colourées. Lou prend un peu de le deux. Grand-Papa lit la section technologie de le journal et Papi regarde les bandes dessinées. Lou joue avec les parasols en papier que Papi mis dans les verres de jus.
Après avoir mangé, ils vont tous à la bibliothèque, puis rentrer chez eux pour le déjeuner. Dans l'après-midi, Papi écoute de la musique pendant Lou et Grand-Papa bricolent avec leur inventions.
Malheureusement, une samedi, Papi tombe comme ils partent pour aller à la bibliothèque. Il est très blesse, et il apprend qu'il sera toujours en fauteuil roulant toujours. Après ça, Papi n'est pas la même. Touts les temps il est triste et il refuse de quitter sa chambre.
Grand-Papa et Lou peuvent-ils trouver un moyen de faire revivre la joie de Papi? Ne t'inquiète pas -- Lou pense qu'il a une idée!
Merci beaucoup à NetGalley et Orca Book Publishers de m'avoir donné à l'avance une copie numérique de ce livre.
September 26, 2018
Beautiful story about family values, and others values as well (respect perseverance, patience, and more). The illustrations were a bit too pastel colors for my liking, but they're still fine. Simple but deep. Love it!
September 21, 2019
A Plan for Pops is a sweet story about a little boy and his two grandfathers. The themes of perseverance, persistence, and patience are great, as is the way Lou helps Pops come to terms with his new disability. However, I have to take a few marks off because the writing is somewhat uneven (and even confusing) in places and makes the book seem like a mediocre translation.
It looks like the book was published simultaneously in English and French, but there are a few things that make me think the French came first. Near the beginning, Lou and Grandad are discussing how umbrellas have ribs, and then they examine a paper umbrella and can't find any. (It makes me wonder if they were originally taking about something else, because ribs on a paper umbrella are not hard to see, by any means.) Then, the exclamation of "oh dear, oh dear, oh dear" is repeated both for negative and positive things. (So I'm wondering if the original text used an expression that could apply to both; "oh dear" is nearly always a negative in English.) And the third thing is the illustration of Pops in his bed next to a sign that the English text tells us reads "PULL ME!" The illustration has the words in French and says "TIRE SURE LA FICELLE" ("pull on the string"). This could be a potential source of confusion for young readers, unless they also speak French. (This is starting to become a pet peeve of mine. I've noticed that translated picture books don't always translate the text that's part of the illustrations, even when it's an integral part of the story.)
As a premise, this is really cute. Lou's relationship with his grandfathers is sweet. The men each have their own distinct personality. Lou's thoughtfulness after Pops's accident is lovely to see; all he wants to do is help Pops feel better.
Overall, this is an okay book. I like the premise and the illustrations, but the text is uneven and could be confusing. I have a feeling this book might end up being better received in Canada where most of us have at least a basic understanding of French; that sign beside Pops's bed won't necessarily send us running for an online translator.
It looks like the book was published simultaneously in English and French, but there are a few things that make me think the French came first. Near the beginning, Lou and Grandad are discussing how umbrellas have ribs, and then they examine a paper umbrella and can't find any. (It makes me wonder if they were originally taking about something else, because ribs on a paper umbrella are not hard to see, by any means.) Then, the exclamation of "oh dear, oh dear, oh dear" is repeated both for negative and positive things. (So I'm wondering if the original text used an expression that could apply to both; "oh dear" is nearly always a negative in English.) And the third thing is the illustration of Pops in his bed next to a sign that the English text tells us reads "PULL ME!" The illustration has the words in French and says "TIRE SURE LA FICELLE" ("pull on the string"). This could be a potential source of confusion for young readers, unless they also speak French. (This is starting to become a pet peeve of mine. I've noticed that translated picture books don't always translate the text that's part of the illustrations, even when it's an integral part of the story.)
As a premise, this is really cute. Lou's relationship with his grandfathers is sweet. The men each have their own distinct personality. Lou's thoughtfulness after Pops's accident is lovely to see; all he wants to do is help Pops feel better.
Overall, this is an okay book. I like the premise and the illustrations, but the text is uneven and could be confusing. I have a feeling this book might end up being better received in Canada where most of us have at least a basic understanding of French; that sign beside Pops's bed won't necessarily send us running for an online translator.
October 15, 2021
Thank you Taylor and Barbara and the @queenseduc library for a very lovely children’s book
July 13, 2019
Absolutely loved this sweet, sensitive book about a nonbinary child (name is Lou, no pronouns or gender indicators whatsoever) and their two grandfathers, Granddad and Pops. The genders of the grandparents and the child are not major themes in this story at all. The story shows the loving relationship between these three characters. The first half of the book depicts the fun activities they do together. The second half addresses one of the grandfathers experiencing a permanently-disabling injury, and then going through depression when he returns from the hospital. These events are depicted in a strikingly forthright manner -- the author does not shy away from the difficult subject manner, but also does not try to make the reader feel any particular way about these events; they are just things that could realistically happen to someone’s grandparent. The story then ends -- not with any sort of “miracle cure”, but with an honest depiction of how a loving family would come together to support one another in such a circumstance. There is SO much good stuff packed into this little book. It surely could be upsetting to a child, especially if they’re unaware of how aging might affect beloved elders in their life, or conversely if they’re acutely aware of it because their family is coping with something similar. I would definitely recommend that adults preview this one before reading it to children -- both in order to be prepared to discuss it with them afterward, and also so the adult reader can prepare themself for their own emotions that might come up.
April 13, 2019
There is nothing better than a picture book that accomplishes complex storytelling in a seemingly simple way. The intersectionality is neither forced or didactic...it just is a natural and authentic element of the story and its characters. The book includes: LGBTQ characters, interracial relationships, disability, mental health, STEM/Rube Goldberg innovation, and a non-binary character. Lou has two gay grandfathers, one white and one whose ethnicity is never named, though he has a darker complexion. Pops suffers a fall and requires use of a wheelchair. The reader can infer that he deals with some depression as a result of his fall’s consequences. Lou tinkers with building a Rube Goldberg inspired contraption that will cheer Pops up and get him back in their weekend routine. Also of note is Lou, a young child who is agender. Neither referred to as he or she, Lou’s outward appearance lets the reader decide their own interpretation, whether part of the binary or agender, as well as the use of “they” as both an inclusive gender neutral and collective pronoun. Amazingly, none of these elements stand out as diversity for the sake of diversity. It just happens to be a story, ultimately, about a loving family finding ways to support each other when faced with a challenge.
October 3, 2018
I love that this picture book is about the child’s two grandparents, but not about them as a gay couple, but about them as they relate to their grandchild.
This is a sweet story of a grandchild, Lou and their grandfathers, and the special time that they have together. (It is not clear in the story, what gender Lou is, and it does not really matter to the story).
When Pops has a fall, Lou and Grampa have to come up with a way to cheer him up.
Good for any child that has a spcecial time with their grandparents.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This is a sweet story of a grandchild, Lou and their grandfathers, and the special time that they have together. (It is not clear in the story, what gender Lou is, and it does not really matter to the story).
When Pops has a fall, Lou and Grampa have to come up with a way to cheer him up.
Good for any child that has a spcecial time with their grandparents.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
March 15, 2019
A young boy and his father and pops do everything together. When pop has a fall and must stay in a wheelchair they think the days of doing everything together is over and then the boy has an idea to keep him included.
March 24, 2019
This book is perfect. It doesn't try too hard. It's a story about a boy and his two grandpas. It's about aging and relationships and creativity and perseverance. It's about knowing just the right way to make someone else happy. (Two grandpas, one black, one white, but that's not what the story is about. Not at all. Or everything, because it's just a different kind of normal.)
January 20, 2021
Fantastic picture book. I love how all Heather Smith’s books teach the importance of including everyone while making you laugh and cry.
June 16, 2020
Oh. My. This book. It’s so sweet!
Every Saturday Lou (they/them) visits Grandad and Pops and we’re immediately charmed by the three of them. Grandad and Pops are distinct personalities that have found a rhythm, and obviously a life, together. Lou, who moves between them, learns and benefits from them both.
“Lou goes back and forth between the two and learns that zippers are made from teeth and Elvis was king.”
Smith sets up a rhythm not only for a day, but a relationship, and a story. Until one Saturday, there is an interruption. Pops falls and it means he needs not just a wheelchair for rehabilitation, but for this day onward. He becomes depressed and his absence is felt by Grandad and Lou, “neither can taste the zing.” Lou thinks about what they’ve learned from their time with Grandad and the wonderful inventions…about cause and effect, about ramps, paper cranes, boosts, about plans that led to joy. Lou comes up with a plan for Pops.
They persevere, persist, and try to be patient. They welcome the help of neighbors. Now to lure Pops out.
As Smith masters the charming details that describe Saturdays for Lou, Grandad and Pops, Kerrigan accompanies with details and charm of her own. The illustrations, her composition, coloring, textures, are incredibly appealing. The text can be longer than current trend, but Kerrigan makes it as easy to become absorbed in the story as Smith does. That simple sweet vignette of Lou sitting in the overstuffed chair holding a sleeping Pops. The vibrant scene of a well-tested contraption letting loose the cranes. I was clapping alongside Pops, it is indeed beautiful. The page where “Pops has a fall,” Pops literally flies off the page and exits stage right out of story. The next pages note his absence. Both narratively and technically, Kerrigan adds a dimension all her own.
A Plan for Pops is a great aging grandparents who undergo significant life-changes story. It’s a wonderful STEM book for children who love invention and trouble-shooting. It’s also a great book for drawing the eye towards intersections, tenderness, and community; the things that draw and hold us together. Grandad’s “three Ps—perseverance, persistence, and patience” is applied in creative ways, most significant is the way they use it to demonstrate their love for Pops. There is much to love in this book. I highly recommend it.
Every Saturday Lou (they/them) visits Grandad and Pops and we’re immediately charmed by the three of them. Grandad and Pops are distinct personalities that have found a rhythm, and obviously a life, together. Lou, who moves between them, learns and benefits from them both.
“Lou goes back and forth between the two and learns that zippers are made from teeth and Elvis was king.”
Smith sets up a rhythm not only for a day, but a relationship, and a story. Until one Saturday, there is an interruption. Pops falls and it means he needs not just a wheelchair for rehabilitation, but for this day onward. He becomes depressed and his absence is felt by Grandad and Lou, “neither can taste the zing.” Lou thinks about what they’ve learned from their time with Grandad and the wonderful inventions…about cause and effect, about ramps, paper cranes, boosts, about plans that led to joy. Lou comes up with a plan for Pops.
They persevere, persist, and try to be patient. They welcome the help of neighbors. Now to lure Pops out.
As Smith masters the charming details that describe Saturdays for Lou, Grandad and Pops, Kerrigan accompanies with details and charm of her own. The illustrations, her composition, coloring, textures, are incredibly appealing. The text can be longer than current trend, but Kerrigan makes it as easy to become absorbed in the story as Smith does. That simple sweet vignette of Lou sitting in the overstuffed chair holding a sleeping Pops. The vibrant scene of a well-tested contraption letting loose the cranes. I was clapping alongside Pops, it is indeed beautiful. The page where “Pops has a fall,” Pops literally flies off the page and exits stage right out of story. The next pages note his absence. Both narratively and technically, Kerrigan adds a dimension all her own.
A Plan for Pops is a great aging grandparents who undergo significant life-changes story. It’s a wonderful STEM book for children who love invention and trouble-shooting. It’s also a great book for drawing the eye towards intersections, tenderness, and community; the things that draw and hold us together. Grandad’s “three Ps—perseverance, persistence, and patience” is applied in creative ways, most significant is the way they use it to demonstrate their love for Pops. There is much to love in this book. I highly recommend it.
June 25, 2019
A really lovely story that deals with disability, aging, and queerness in an age-appropriate way. I especially appreciated the way disability was referenced. When Pops needs a wheelchair, it’s deemed “news” not “bad news.” The depiction of him using a cane is matter of fact. Needing a wheelchair makes him depressed for a time, but he finds joy again.
May 16, 2019
Absolutely one of the best picture books of 2019. It's lovingly illustrated and has themes that would be great for a story time about grandparents, inventing, problem solving, or creativity. Just like Lou and Grandad's imaginations, the possibilities are unlimited!
June 24, 2022
24/06/2022
★★★★☆
Very cute and adorable read! I like that the focus of the story is on their dynamics as a family and what they like to do together <3
I absolutely recommend this sweet children's book!
★★★★☆
Very cute and adorable read! I like that the focus of the story is on their dynamics as a family and what they like to do together <3
I absolutely recommend this sweet children's book!
May 20, 2019
I really want the Rube Goldberg machine they created with the paper cranes. So pretty. The story and the illustrations are great in this book.
May 31, 2019
I can't even put into words how much I love this beautiful book.
September 13, 2019
This book made me cry lil happy tears. Adorable.
May 13, 2020
An adorable story full of respect for the elderly. Also love the non-issue of gender.
December 16, 2019
This was a beautiful story which can touch people of all ages. It is about being open, encourage and support people when they need you the most. Love is a powerful sent by this picture books. The color scheme and art were beautiful.
Cute.
Cute.
June 11, 2022
I love a great book that shows representation without making it about the representation!!
Pops has a fall and has to adjust to using a wheelchair and Grandad & Lou (the grandchild) help Pops.
Pops has a fall and has to adjust to using a wheelchair and Grandad & Lou (the grandchild) help Pops.
May 30, 2019
How did they get this much into one short book?? There is family, aging, engineering, empathy, community . . . you would think one picture book couldn't contain all that but this does and it does it masterfully. I have a soft-spot for extended family stories, then add to that the fact that this depicts gay grandparents in a way that is beautiful and understated. The grandparents have this wonderful opposites dynamic and seeing Lou get the best from each is so touching, even before you get to the end -which made me smile and brought a tear to my eye at the same time. Can't say enough about it. It's fantastic.
May 29, 2020
I found A Plan for Pops by Heather Smith and illustrator Brooke Kerrigan on the 2020 Rainbow Booklist. This book is listed under the picture book fiction titles. I borrowed this book from the IllinoisLibrary page and read it digitally.
This story follows Lou as he visits his Grandad and Pops every Saturday. The author takes us through their day and subtly shows the differences between Pops and Grandad. When a sudden tragic turn of events leaves Pops unable to walk, it is up to Lou and Grandad to get his spirits back up.
The pictures of this book are very light and colorful. This would be a good book to start a discussion with students about how some families may look different, but still have the same concerns and passions as anyone else.
This story follows Lou as he visits his Grandad and Pops every Saturday. The author takes us through their day and subtly shows the differences between Pops and Grandad. When a sudden tragic turn of events leaves Pops unable to walk, it is up to Lou and Grandad to get his spirits back up.
The pictures of this book are very light and colorful. This would be a good book to start a discussion with students about how some families may look different, but still have the same concerns and passions as anyone else.
October 19, 2018
This is such a caring, sweet book about the relationship between Lou and his two grandfathers. Every Saturday, they have breakfast, go to the library, and spend the afternoon together. Pops and Grandad are very different, and I love the way the author shows Lou interacting with these two very different grandpas. One Saturday, Pops has a fall and is confined to a wheelchair. He is depressed and does not want to do anything. Lou comes up a plan to get him back into their regular routine. I loved Lou's imagination as well as his relationship with his grandparents. Lou tries different things to cheer up Pops and finally with the help of Grandad, they succeed. This persistence is wonderful to see and shows how important this relationship is. Grandad and Pops were a same-sex couple which was portrayed simply as Lou's grandfathers and there was no other mention about it. I like that this was just a normal relationship. The illustrations were cute, yet the colours were a bit pastel. I would recommend this book to any child looking for a nice story about family spending time together, especially with their grandparents. The publisher, Orca Books, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, opinions and ideas are my own.
October 5, 2018
I received a digital arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is such a heartfelt and sweet book about the relationships between Lou and his two grandfathers. Every Saturday, they have a routine to have breakfast, go to the library, and spend the afternoon together. One Saturday, Pops has a fall and is confined to a wheelchair. Lou thinks up a plan to get him back into routine
I loved the imagination of the son as well as the relationship between him and his grandparents. Pops is clearly depressed after his accident, even though he's described as 'sad'. The persistence of Lou in making sure he cheers up Pops is lovely to see. It shows the loyalty of family and how important having somebody is in your life. I appreciated that it didn't make a big deal about how his grandad and Pops were a same sex couple. I also loved the part about their routine at the library. I can so clearly see a family doing exactly what they did. I would recommend this book to any child looking for a nice story about family and determination.
This is such a heartfelt and sweet book about the relationships between Lou and his two grandfathers. Every Saturday, they have a routine to have breakfast, go to the library, and spend the afternoon together. One Saturday, Pops has a fall and is confined to a wheelchair. Lou thinks up a plan to get him back into routine
I loved the imagination of the son as well as the relationship between him and his grandparents. Pops is clearly depressed after his accident, even though he's described as 'sad'. The persistence of Lou in making sure he cheers up Pops is lovely to see. It shows the loyalty of family and how important having somebody is in your life. I appreciated that it didn't make a big deal about how his grandad and Pops were a same sex couple. I also loved the part about their routine at the library. I can so clearly see a family doing exactly what they did. I would recommend this book to any child looking for a nice story about family and determination.
November 19, 2025
3.75 - Good
Creative displays of love, endearing characters, and relevant plot. The dialogue can be repetitive at times and certain lines lack emotional impact. A realistic portrayal of aging and making adjustments when necessary. Perseverance, persistence, and patience are well-integrated in the story. Charming and appealing illustrations serve as the backdrop for the connections that hold the characters together. Age-appropriate pacing and authentic disability representation. Undefined relationships shine the spotlight on themes of hope. Bonds authenticity and freedom with an inner emotion of serenity. Recommended for those looking for a diverse and intergenerational story filled with morals.
P.S. During my initial read through this book, I had lukewarm feelings about the atmosphere it created. Now that I’ve read it again, I realise the overall message flew over my head. The story adds a sincere tone.
Creative displays of love, endearing characters, and relevant plot. The dialogue can be repetitive at times and certain lines lack emotional impact. A realistic portrayal of aging and making adjustments when necessary. Perseverance, persistence, and patience are well-integrated in the story. Charming and appealing illustrations serve as the backdrop for the connections that hold the characters together. Age-appropriate pacing and authentic disability representation. Undefined relationships shine the spotlight on themes of hope. Bonds authenticity and freedom with an inner emotion of serenity. Recommended for those looking for a diverse and intergenerational story filled with morals.
"They walk hand in hand, like a chain of paper dolls.”
P.S. During my initial read through this book, I had lukewarm feelings about the atmosphere it created. Now that I’ve read it again, I realise the overall message flew over my head. The story adds a sincere tone.
September 5, 2019
A Plan For Pops by Heather Smith, illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan. PICTURE BOOK. Orca Books, 2019. $20. 9781459816145
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
After Pops takes a bad fall, Lou and Grandad make a plan to bring joy back to him and coax him out of the bedroom.
So many gentle books that can help children cope as their loved ones age and become infirm. Add this one to your go-to list.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
After Pops takes a bad fall, Lou and Grandad make a plan to bring joy back to him and coax him out of the bedroom.
So many gentle books that can help children cope as their loved ones age and become infirm. Add this one to your go-to list.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
October 18, 2018
What a sweet, sweet book of love and care for those closest to you. I loved the diverse family portrayed as well as the stages of grief and loss. The family worked through the changes, gave Pops time and space to heal, and then gently encouraged him to stay living life again. A truly beautiful book.
March 15, 2019
Why we chose this book:
We enjoyed Angus All Aglow by Heather Smith, I keep my eyes for any wheelchair-related picture books, and I'm keen on books that feature creative problem solving. Orca Book Publishers provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mom's Review: (V)
A little boy, Lou, spends every weekend with his grandfathers. They have an enviable routine that starts with breakfast, moves to the library, continues on to lunch, and proceeds to snuggles and stories, and finally ends with constructing and inventing. One Saturday, however, Lou's Pops falls on the stairs out of the house. That evening, they get the news that Pops will need to use a wheelchair from now on. This is stated simply, with no negative undertones. Pops, however, slides into a depression and is not seen by Lou for weeks. Lou and Granddad are heartbroken at Pops's refusal to leave his room until the day Lou decides to get Pops back into the old swing of things. And this is what I so love about A Plan for Pops: the problem-solving.
Lou sketches out his plan, asks his Granddad for help, and engages the neighbors in his epic construction. He combines skills learned from each of his grandfathers (construction and engineering from Granddad and arts from Pops), to set up a mechanism that will turn on the stereo to Pops's favorite song. When the song ends, Lou arrives with a glass of juice topped with a paper umbrella (a Pops special). Lou has obviously considered what Pops enjoys, what will elicit happiness and remind Pops of his special bond with his grandson (you can see a family portrait by Lou framed over Pops's bed). Pops does indeed feel encouraged enough to make a try for the library, and what awaits him out his front door is nothing short of life-changing. Lou, Granddad, and the neighbors have built a ramp for Pops; now he can enter and exit his home. The joy as Lou pushes Pops to the library is palpable, and all three resume their previous routine with no hindrance from Pops new ride.
The three main takeaways from A Plan with Pops:
1. kids have the power to creatively solve problems
2. a wheelchair isn't bad, it just is
3. engineering and art complement one another
Uplifting and empowering, A Plan with Pops is a great read with inspiring messaging and lovely illustrations.
Son's Review: (T)
(Age: 4)
Mom: What did you like best about this book?
Son: I - what I liked about this book was that they built contraptions.
Mom: I liked how the boy solved the problem. He made a plan and asked for help and did it.
Son: That was also my favorite part.
Mom: Do you like to make plans?
Son: Yes. And the plan I just made right now is, "Read a book!"
Mom: Why do you think the ramp was so important to Pops?
Son: Because he could drive his wheelchair.
Mom: And before the ramp? ... What did that mean for him?
Son: There was stairs... That was a bad thing because he fell.
Mom: How would you feel if you were Lou in this book?
Son: Me? I would feel happy and I would feel sad. Happy that I was written about in a story and sad because Pops fell.
Mom: What do you think the author and illustrator want to tell the audience about wheelchairs?...Walk or get around?
Son: They're very important because they help you to walk...Get around.
Mom: What would you say to Lou if you could meet him?
Son: If I met him when Pops fell, I would try to comfort him.
Mom: Would you want to spend a weekend with Granddad, Pops, and Lou? Why?
Son: Yeah. Because I want to! Building contraptions!
Mom: When is it a good time to read A Plan for Pops?
Son: When I'm problem solving.
Mom: Who else should read this book?
Son: Anyone else who likes to do problem solving!
Mom: And final question: What's the most important thing to know about A Plan for Pops?
Son: That it's a good book.
We enjoyed Angus All Aglow by Heather Smith, I keep my eyes for any wheelchair-related picture books, and I'm keen on books that feature creative problem solving. Orca Book Publishers provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mom's Review: (V)
A little boy, Lou, spends every weekend with his grandfathers. They have an enviable routine that starts with breakfast, moves to the library, continues on to lunch, and proceeds to snuggles and stories, and finally ends with constructing and inventing. One Saturday, however, Lou's Pops falls on the stairs out of the house. That evening, they get the news that Pops will need to use a wheelchair from now on. This is stated simply, with no negative undertones. Pops, however, slides into a depression and is not seen by Lou for weeks. Lou and Granddad are heartbroken at Pops's refusal to leave his room until the day Lou decides to get Pops back into the old swing of things. And this is what I so love about A Plan for Pops: the problem-solving.
Lou sketches out his plan, asks his Granddad for help, and engages the neighbors in his epic construction. He combines skills learned from each of his grandfathers (construction and engineering from Granddad and arts from Pops), to set up a mechanism that will turn on the stereo to Pops's favorite song. When the song ends, Lou arrives with a glass of juice topped with a paper umbrella (a Pops special). Lou has obviously considered what Pops enjoys, what will elicit happiness and remind Pops of his special bond with his grandson (you can see a family portrait by Lou framed over Pops's bed). Pops does indeed feel encouraged enough to make a try for the library, and what awaits him out his front door is nothing short of life-changing. Lou, Granddad, and the neighbors have built a ramp for Pops; now he can enter and exit his home. The joy as Lou pushes Pops to the library is palpable, and all three resume their previous routine with no hindrance from Pops new ride.
The three main takeaways from A Plan with Pops:
1. kids have the power to creatively solve problems
2. a wheelchair isn't bad, it just is
3. engineering and art complement one another
Uplifting and empowering, A Plan with Pops is a great read with inspiring messaging and lovely illustrations.
Son's Review: (T)
(Age: 4)
Mom: What did you like best about this book?
Son: I - what I liked about this book was that they built contraptions.
Mom: I liked how the boy solved the problem. He made a plan and asked for help and did it.
Son: That was also my favorite part.
Mom: Do you like to make plans?
Son: Yes. And the plan I just made right now is, "Read a book!"
Mom: Why do you think the ramp was so important to Pops?
Son: Because he could drive his wheelchair.
Mom: And before the ramp? ... What did that mean for him?
Son: There was stairs... That was a bad thing because he fell.
Mom: How would you feel if you were Lou in this book?
Son: Me? I would feel happy and I would feel sad. Happy that I was written about in a story and sad because Pops fell.
Mom: What do you think the author and illustrator want to tell the audience about wheelchairs?...Walk or get around?
Son: They're very important because they help you to walk...Get around.
Mom: What would you say to Lou if you could meet him?
Son: If I met him when Pops fell, I would try to comfort him.
Mom: Would you want to spend a weekend with Granddad, Pops, and Lou? Why?
Son: Yeah. Because I want to! Building contraptions!
Mom: When is it a good time to read A Plan for Pops?
Son: When I'm problem solving.
Mom: Who else should read this book?
Son: Anyone else who likes to do problem solving!
Mom: And final question: What's the most important thing to know about A Plan for Pops?
Son: That it's a good book.
December 23, 2019
There is so much to like about A Plan for Pops by Heather Smith and Brook Kerrigan, published by Orca Book Publishers. It’s a lovely little intergenerational story about a grandchild and their Grandad and Pops.
Lou spends Saturdays with Grandad and Pops, learning from them and enjoying their company. Most Saturdays are the same until Pops has an accident. With the help of Grandad Lou comes up with a plan for Pops. Lou sketches the plan, enlists the help of Grandad and the neighbours, and finally reveals the plan to Pops.
This beautiful picture book has so many incredible elements to it. First off Grandad and Pops are a same sex couple with different interests and so much knowledge to impart on Lou. Grandad is a little bit more serious and Pops is a little bit more silly. You will notice throughout reading that anytime Lou is mentioned the author never uses a pronoun. It’s such a wonderful little element of the story as it allows all children to identify with Lou and thanks to the illustrator, Lou is depicted just as a child without bias. Grandad and Lou spend time together learning about new things and creating interesting machines. After reading this story, you may want to investigate Rube Goldberg and the Rube Goldberg machine and maybe play a game of Mouse Trap or two. It is through ingenuity, empathy and spunk Lou dreams up the plan for Pops. Throughout the story, the author refers to the 3 Ps: patience, persistence, and perseverance. Lou sticks to the plan, even when the first attempts fail, Lou continues to work to perfect her lovely plan.
I loved this little story from page one but really was not sure how it would play with The Bear and The Bee. Perhaps because they have a lovely relationship with their grandparents as well as some recent health troubles befalling the grandparents, A Plan for Pops really struck a cord with them and if only one story could be read, A Plan for Pops was the choice.
Brook Kerrigan creates some lovely illustrations, full of life and tenderness. She uses the perfect colours to depict the emotions in the story and uses some unique patterns and lovely flowing lines to create Lou’s Saturday’s with Grandad and Pops.
Lou spends Saturdays with Grandad and Pops, learning from them and enjoying their company. Most Saturdays are the same until Pops has an accident. With the help of Grandad Lou comes up with a plan for Pops. Lou sketches the plan, enlists the help of Grandad and the neighbours, and finally reveals the plan to Pops.
This beautiful picture book has so many incredible elements to it. First off Grandad and Pops are a same sex couple with different interests and so much knowledge to impart on Lou. Grandad is a little bit more serious and Pops is a little bit more silly. You will notice throughout reading that anytime Lou is mentioned the author never uses a pronoun. It’s such a wonderful little element of the story as it allows all children to identify with Lou and thanks to the illustrator, Lou is depicted just as a child without bias. Grandad and Lou spend time together learning about new things and creating interesting machines. After reading this story, you may want to investigate Rube Goldberg and the Rube Goldberg machine and maybe play a game of Mouse Trap or two. It is through ingenuity, empathy and spunk Lou dreams up the plan for Pops. Throughout the story, the author refers to the 3 Ps: patience, persistence, and perseverance. Lou sticks to the plan, even when the first attempts fail, Lou continues to work to perfect her lovely plan.
I loved this little story from page one but really was not sure how it would play with The Bear and The Bee. Perhaps because they have a lovely relationship with their grandparents as well as some recent health troubles befalling the grandparents, A Plan for Pops really struck a cord with them and if only one story could be read, A Plan for Pops was the choice.
Brook Kerrigan creates some lovely illustrations, full of life and tenderness. She uses the perfect colours to depict the emotions in the story and uses some unique patterns and lovely flowing lines to create Lou’s Saturday’s with Grandad and Pops.
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