I'm Going to Grandma's [Hardcover]

Mary Ann Hoberman (Author), Tiphanie Beeke (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

What could be better than a visit to Grandma's? A sleepover, of course! But despite all the excitement, despite Grandma's delicious special meal, and despite Grandpa's fun games, there's still a moment when home suddenly seems very far away. That's when Grandma tells a soothing story and presents a family heirloom--a quilt to keep her granddaughter cozy all night long.

           

Mary Ann Hoberman and Tiphanie Beeke have together created a universal tale about the love and comfort that only a grandma can provide.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Why is this visit to Grandma's different from all other visits? Because the young pigtailed narrator is "not only going/ to stay for the day/ I'm going to stay/ for the night!" The house holds a host of pleasures, from dressing up in an old wedding gown to hearing Grandpa play " 'Three Blind Mice' on his musical saw." And when night falls, and the girl's anxieties about being away from home bubble up, Grandma knows exactly how to make it "all/ be all right," telling her granddaughter family stories connected with the patchwork quilt that covers the girl's bed. That night, the child has sweet dreams: "I dream I am making a quilt of my own/ and my dreams keep me cozy all night." Hoberman (One of Each) varies the rhyme scheme just enough to keep a lilt going and to convey the charms of this warm familial circle. Beeke's (Fletcher and the Falling Leaves) idyllic depiction of senior living may strike some youngsters as fantasy. Grandma and Grandpa live in a bona fide cottage with nary a TV in sight, and Grandma wears an ensemble that recalls Raggedy Ann (complete with red striped stockings). No matter: the grandparents' doting feels utterly real, as does the comfort and security that the girl draws from their presence. Even readers with the hippest urban grandparents may well find this as satisfying as a plateful of warm, homemade cookies. Ages 3-7. (Apr.)
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From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—A little girl's first overnight at her grandparents' home is both exciting and worrisome. She has a fine time drawing, dressing up as a bride, and playing with their new puppy. Come nighttime, her fears are soothed by her grandmother, who shares the family story behind a handmade quilt. Hoberman's normally spot-on rhymes seem forced at times: "My grandma was YOUR great-great-grandma, oh yes,/and when she was just about your age, I guess," and the events of the visit often seem written more for their ability to rhyme than for the story: "My grandpa's an artist. He helps me to draw./He plays 'Three Blind Mice' on his musical saw." The saving grace is Beeke's impressionistic, vibrant, watercolor-and-acrylic art, which glows with sunset colors, conveying loving and warm relationships and portraying the grandparents' home as a wonderful place. Pleasant, but additional.—Susan Moorhead, New Rochelle Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HMH Books (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152165924
• ISBN-13: 978-0152165925
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,199,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Ann Hoberman is a poet and the critically acclaimed author of many books for children, including the beloved A House Is a House for Me, which won a National Book Award. She was also the editor of the poetry anthology My Song Is Beautiful: Poems and Pictures in Many Voices. Ms. Hoberman gives readings in libraries and schools, and her poems are included in countless anthologies. She lives in Greenwich, Connecticut

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A good one by Mary Ann Hoberman, September 8, 2011

By 

S. Reynolds "Mystery lover" (Missouri) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I'm Going to Grandma's (Hardcover)

This is not my favorite book by Mary Ann Hoberman (that would be A House Is A House For Me). However my 3 year old LOVES this book. It is a very nice story about staying overnight at grandma's. We originally checked it out from the library but will buy a copy for my daughter, she cannot get enough of this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute story that will make your little one want to go to Grandma's alone, July 12, 2008

By 

Laura Madsen (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I'm Going to Grandma's (Hardcover)

This story will teach your little one that going to Grandma's house (and/or Grandpa's house) is a lot of fun and it's ok to stay there by him/herself without being afraid. The illustrations are great and the story keeps a 2 or 3 year old's attention well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely story to introduce the concept of an overnight away from Mom and Dad., December 28, 2007

By 

Shashi (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm Going to Grandma's (Hardcover)

This book recently helped us prior to our daughter's first overnight away from us. It's a sweet, simple story that is beautifully illustrated, too. The little girl goes to her grandparent's house for an overnight. She has a nice time, but gets worried at bedtime. Grandma reassures her with a lovely story about a quilt passed down through the generations. I love the warm relationship it depicts the granddaughter having with her grandparents. The only complaint I'd have about the story itself is that you are left to assume the parents come back. Of course, we know they do, but that's left to the imagination.