The Grandma Book

by Todd Parr

Featuring Todd Parr's signature colorful and kid-friendly illustrations, The Grandma Book portrays the different ways grandmothers show their grandchildren love, from offering advice and babysitting to making things and giving lots of kisses.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Storytime, Kids, Fiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2006

About the author

Todd Parr is a three-time New York Times-bestselling author and illustrator of more than fifty books for children. He has inspired and empowered children around the world with simple, hopeful, and powerful messages such as “be kind”, “love yourself” and “be who you are,” all set with vibrant images in eye-catching primary colors. His books have received numerous awards and are available in nearly twenty languages. He also is the co-creator of the popular three-time Daytime Emmy©-nominated animated TV series, "ToddWorld" with Gerry Renert of SupperTime Entertainment. Several short films for Sesame Street have also been based on Parr’s work.

Parr devotes time to numerous philanthropic causes supporting pet adoption, children’s hunger, health, and literacy. He is a frequent reader and fundraiser for The Ronald McDonald House and serves on the board of directors for the Virginia Children’s Book Festival. His corporate collaborations include Best Buy, Stouffer’s, and the San Francisco–Marin Food Bank, among others.

A native of Wyoming, Parr currently lives in Berkeley, California.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the wonderful things that make up a grandma!

[Rhonda Paglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a grandmother, this book tickled me! It was fun and funny. I love Todd Parr's child-like, colorful illustrations, and can totally relate to his style of artwork! Again, this is a sweet easy / early reader. Kids learn that there are all kinds of Grandmas. I loved reading this to my grandchildren - and with them! I also loved hearing them say, "Grammy, that's you!" Fun, fun, fun! Thanks, Todd Parr!

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything here is absolutely true.

[Crystal Lough · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Grandma Book is a picture book. It is appropriate for children of a primary level. In the book the narrator names many different things grandmas do. For example, one page said, "Some grandmas like to dance." Another page says, "Some grandmas like to play bingo." I rated this book a 4 because in my opinion this book has a lot of strong points. The main idea of the book proves that a lot of people, including grandmas, are different. The pictures display this idea as well. For example, all of the grandmas have different color skin and hair. They are all dressed the same and are different sizes. The pictures are simply drawn cartoon style which is interesting to young children. I feel as though pictures such as these boost their ego because they feel like they can draw just as good as the illustrator. I feel like a lot of children will be drawn to this book. The repetition in the words on each page will give the children confidence in their reading skills. I could use this book in the classroom to work on fluency considering a lot of the pages start the same way.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Merry Christmas, Grandma!!! I thought you could read this to me when we FaceTime.” As you can see from this quote, The Grandma Book was a Christmas gift from my little granddaughter.

The Grandma Book is a simple little story that describes many diverse types of Grandmas. It illustrates the different ways in which they look, dress, wear their hair, dance, drive a car, play games, etc., etc. The story shows us that Grandmas are all very distinct individuals with one thing in common: They LOVE their grandchildren!

I totally enjoyed reading this book and loved looking at all the wonderful, brightly colored illustrations. Excellent job Todd Parr! This very simple story is quite the meaningful learning experience. I’m happy to give you five cute little Grandmas...whoops, I mean stars!

P.S. And of course I will be reading it to my granddaugher when we FaceTime.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this electronic book out of the Rockford Public library, to read to my grandchildren. I didn't get a chance to read it to them, but showed it to my daughter-in-law, and to her mother. Grandma J gives the grandchildren a lot of cloths. She sews beautifully. There was a cute picture of the clothes grandma makes for the kids, but they don't fit. Some grandma's give books, which is like me. We all give lots of kisses. This is a cute short book, with bright colored illustrations.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd Parr does it again with another wonderful book about family members. This one is all about grandmas. Parr hits on all types including the ones that feed you until you can eat no more and the one that have blue hair! And apparently, I've never noticed this before, but no one in any of Parr's books have shoes that match. :)

[Peggy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had my 2-year-old give this book to his grandma for Christmas. They both love it and he asks her to read it again and again. He actually has it memorized and reads it to her now. I love the colorful artwork.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book. Some grandmas do this, and some grandmas do that, but all grandmas love it when...

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read at family-themed preschool story time on 11/28/11: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

bright pictures, addresses many types of Grandmas!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The formula works.

[Golden Ginkgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE Todd Parr. I love his wacky illustrations, goofy jokes, and messages of acceptance and love. He has a healthy chunk of my library dedicated to him, but I still feel like I don’t have enough of his books. In true Todd Parr fashion, these books tell you about all different types of grandmas with humor and love. If you are new to Todd Parr, start with The Family Book, The Feelings Book, or It’s Okay to Be Different, then add this one to your library later.

For my more books about grandparents, check out my post

For many more book recommendations for kids and parents, check out my blog: Golden Ginkgo Books

[SamSamSam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is very sweet. However, I generally don't like absolute statements in picture books, such as "all grandmas like to hear from you." Unfortunately some kids (young Pearl included) don't have positive feelings about or experiences with their grandparents, so those statements just aren't true. That definitely detracted from my enjoyment of the story.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, but actually rather stereotypes grandmas!

[Ann Sternberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming.

[Lucca · Rating 3 out of 5]

8 min, 6 yo
This was a sweet book about all the different ways grandmas love us and their part they play in different families. They are very important.

[Star Forbis · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ Some Grandmas give you a lot of books”

[Abby Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

super duper grandma book!

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book over and over on my latest trip to see my granddaughter. She absolutely loved the illustrations especially the one with the Grandma and cats. It is inclusive and so well done.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandmas share their love in various ways and live their lives to suit them. This is shown through whimsical and funny illustrations for the story.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My four-year-old son picked this book out from the library this week.

This is a book illustrated in bright, bold colors, with broad strokes, strong lines, and, possibly, how a child would illustrate the world.

I like some of this book -- the text also is bright and bold. What I don't like is that the book is also written with broad strokes and strong lines. And the generalization and stereotypes within this book do not describe how a child would or should see the world.

[Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the bold colors and simple words. My mother, the grandma herself, thought it was horribly stereotyped and said I could not purchase it for my child (who was enjoying having it read). It seems that when Parr writes "Some grandmas live with grandpa" and "Some grandmas live with friends" (showing a nursing home scene), he is presenting a horrible dialectic that does not include her.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A celebration of grandmas! Some grandmas have lots of purses and cats, but all grandmas like it when their grandchildren spend the night, talk to their grandchildren on the phone, and give them lots of kisses.

Colorful artwork is rendered in such a way as to look like a child drew them. A great read aloud.

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book to my boys for grandparent's day and they loved it and giggled quite a bit! They are totally grandma's boys! I thought this book was simple, sweet, a bit funny and I'd say it's a good read for younger ones!

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Grandma book by todd parr is a book for a very early reader with simple bright pictures, about all the different grandmas out there