Gramma's Walk [Hardcover]

Anna Grossnickle Hines (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Donnie and his grandmother, who is in a wheelchair, take an imagined walk to the seashore and smell the salty breeze, walk barefoot on the warm sand, observe animals, and build a sand castle.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Donnie's Gramma gets around in a wheelchair, but through the magic of imagination, the two of them walk to the beach; listen, feel, and smell the sea; identify prints in the sand; and admire the wildlife. The wake from a passing ferry collapses the sand castle they build, leaving only the flag and footprints when they head for home. "'You know what, Gramma?'" Donnie says. "'You're the best walker in the whole world.'" Soft-lined, muted watercolors and colored pencils create pristine, full-page seascapes. No big deal is made of Gramma's condition, nor is the reason for it given; what comes through is total acceptance and intergenerational love. A warm and wonderful story for helping children understand aging, much like Tomie dePaola's Now One Foot, Now the Other (Putnam, 1992), and Sally Whitman's A Special Trade (HarperCollins, 1985).
Virginia Opocensky, formerly at Lincoln City Libraries, NE
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 2-4. With a combination of storytelling and imaginative play, a boy and his Gramma pretend they're walking together at the seashore. She's in a wheelchair; his head is in her lap; together they take a walk where they have been before and make it new. The text is on the left hand page, along with a small picture that shows Donnie and Gramma playing their game; filling the right hand page is a realistic, delicately textured scene in watercolor and colored pencil picturing what they imagine on their walk at the beach. The experience is precise and physical, including details of sound and touch as well as what they see: the waves lapping the rocks, the warm sand on the beach, the peeper birds, an otter, a shell. "See it," they say to each other. The intimacy and shared adventure has the appeal of stories and games done over and over. Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 1 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 1st edition (September 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688114806
• ISBN-13: 978-0688114800
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,339,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have been creating books for children for thirty years, with over sixty published titles. In that time I have seen many changes, from the early limited color and pre-separated art of such books as DADDY MAKES THE BEST SPAGHETTI--which I am very proud to say has been in print for twenty-five years--through full color and now digital art. I still enjoy being challenged and learning and trying new things.

It was working with a traditional art form--quilts--used untraditionally as illustrations for my poetry, that led me to doing more and more designing with the computer, and eventually, to creating completely digital art for some of my books.

I am now exploring the world of picture book apps, along with my husband, three daughters, and two son-in-laws in our newly formed company, appropo. We have a great mix of skills and have lots of fun working together creatively. Even the grandkids are getting involved. Check out the trailer for I AM A TYRANNOSAURUS and watch for our website at www.appropo.co.

Wherever my personal and professional life takes me, you can be sure it will involve children. I believe that all children are miraculous, and love to share in their fresh open-hearted discovery of the world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful journey taken by a boy and his Grandmother, May 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Gramma's Walk (Hardcover)

Even though Gramma is confined to a wheelchair, she 'travels' to a lovely beach with her grandson who has come to visit. She paints a picture in words as they travel over the sand, dipping their feet into the chilly sea water while watching the sea gulls, an otter, and building sand castles that are swept away by the waves. The reader can feel the warmth of the sand, the roughness of the barnacle covered rocks and the cool sea breeze as gramma weaves her tale. This is a delightful book with soft watercolor illustration which together with the story make for a subtle look at the power of love between young and old.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Why imagine? Go there and take a wheelchair with you if necessary!, August 20, 2008

By 

D. Burton (Lafayette , Boulder County, Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gramma's Walk (Hardcover)

Rather depressing. Gramma and Donnie sit in the sun room and imagine going places - some days they imagine going together through the woods. In the book, it shows them imagining to walk along the seashore. Yes, imagery and use of imagination is great and an important part of life, but in this case it's unnecessary! Get Gramma into a motorized wheelchair and go to these places for real! This book was written 15 years ago and the Americans With Disabilities Act was signed into law 18 years ago! There are plenty of paths, trails, boardwalks etc that are wheelchair accessible in the United States and around the world. Many beaches have chairs available for people with disabilities to use which do great on the sand (you just have to reserve these a while in advance). Gramma and Donnie could still use their imagination to go places like outer space and back in time. For a great alternative read My Grampy Can't Walk.