Customer Reviews

Grandma Calls Me Beautiful

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4 star:		(1)
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The Joosse/Lavallee team are back with their latest installment of what Barbara Joosse calls her "Great Big Family," series. I became a huge fan of this series right after my daughter was born when I saw Mama, Do You Love Me? and Papa, Do You Love Me? in our local bookstore. I scarfed up a copy of each, and they've become a staple in our story time routine since.

Mama, Do You Love Me? explores the undying and unconditional love an Inuit mother has for her child, and Papa, Do You Love Me? examines the same type of unconditional love a Maasai father has for his son. While the books depict parents and children of different cultures, they hold the common theme of loving your child no matter what--a theme that I suspect most parents identify with, and most children take great comfort in hearing.

Grandma Calls Me Beautiful also explores this theme, this time focusing on the love a Hawaiian grandmother, Tutu, feels for her granddaughter whom she calls Beautiful. The story begins with Tutu telling Beautiful a talk-story about Beautiful's birth. As explained in the book's glossary, a talk-story is an informal conversation, sometimes illustrated with a song, a hei (or string design), or a dance. In this case, Tutu uses a hei, a piece of string which she twists into a design to tell her story. The back of the book also contains instructions on how to make a honu (turtle) hei.

Through Tutu's story of Beautiful's birth, readers learn about Hawaiian traditions, including the custom of "sharing breath," the pressing of foreheads together and touching noses to signify love and affection. When Tutu finishes her story, Beautiful questions her beauty and elicits affirmation from her grandmother that she still is beautiful, similar to the style of questions and and answers the children ask their parents in Mama, Do You Love Me? and Papa, Do You Love Me?

Barbara Lavallee's vivid watercolor illustrations in tropical tones depict the tender moments between Tutu and Beautiful and exude the warmth between them.

Not only does the book depict the undying love between a grandmother and her grandchild, but it teaches children about different cultures. More importantly, it also serves as a way to boost a child's self-esteem. To know that you're loved no matter what you do, or what you look like, even if you're a bit naughty at times is a wonderful and empowering feeling to have.

Any grandmother would be delighted to receive this book and read it to her own granddaughter, and any granddaughter would be delighted to sit on her grandmother's lap and listen to her read the book.

The entire collection would also make a beautiful gift for new and expectant parents, and I hope there will be a "grandpa" book in the future.

I bought this because I love the author's book "Mama, Do You Love Me?" so much! I gave this as a gift to a new Grandma and she not only appreciated it but loved the story, too. She looks forward to reading the story with her new little one and creating their own story together. The illustrations are beautiful.

It was as good as expected. Can't wait to give it and share it with my granddaughter.

A truly beautiful story and the illustrations are beyond compare. My "beautiful" granddaughter just loves this book.

This is a masterpiece about a grandmother and granddaughter who live in Hawaii. Tutu, the grandmother tells her granddaughter that she is beautiful. She even calls her Beautiful. She tells the child a story about her birth, in the Hawaiian tradition of a "talk-story" which is explained in the book's glossary. Some talk-stories are accompanied by music, a special dance and/or a hei, which is a string used to be twisted into a configuration pertinent to the story. Tutu uses all of these reinforcements in her talk-story with her granddaughter. (As an added bonus, instructions on how to make a specific hei is given in this book).

Readers receive a global handshake from Hawaii in this delightful story. Customs such as the "sharing breath," and the traditional kiss, which is to rub noses. Beautiful, the granddaughter asks her grandmother questions affirming her unconditional love, much as her Inuit counterpart in "Mama, Do You Love Me" does in her story.

The illustrations are rich and vibrant and readers will immediately form a bond to Beautiful and her grandmother. The fact that they are Hawaiian is incidental to the story; the important message is the one about unconditional love and self affirmation. The Hawaiian setting only serves to make a good story even better as customs are shared and terms are explained. It is a message that is universal and the book will remain a much cherished possession among all who have it.

Please read this and share it with somebody. This book is ideal for families and educators.