Customer Reviews

Grandpa for Sale

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One of my greatest joys in life is reading children's books (I enjoy writing them, too.) THAT said, let me tell you what I like about this wonderful book and its unusual, aesthetic illustrations.

First of all, I'm always on the lookout for an original idea, and what could be more unique than a child tempted by "big bucks" to sell her beloved Grandpa? Very clever of Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum to create this charming, fascinating concept.

Second: I'm captivated by the eye-pleasing color illustrations complementing the black-and-white background. Illustrator T. Kyle Gentry has a rare talent. I've seen that concept before but not too often. The first time I saw color on b&w was at a 1980s San Jose art show when artist Lee Hartman painted a handsome young man in b&w, the only color being his blue eyes. That piece of fine art was captivating, but I couldn't afford the large oil at the time, so I bought a small, limited-edition print instead. It's lovely.

But I digress! Sorry about that!

I also looooooooved this book because the characters are so real. Who wouldn't fall in love with young Lizzie and her Grandpa? The way these two authors described them was perfection. Wonderful, heart-warming characters that I'll remember all my life.

I even liked the elderly woman who was trying to buy Grandpa. Perhaps I should seek my next mate at a garage sale? Who would think of that? :)

Perhaps most important, this book is educational, teaching strong morals to children ... and we adults could learn something from young Lizzie too.

GRANDPA FOR SALE will definitely become a classic, beloved by young and old alike.

Co-authored by Vicki Sansum and Golden Spur Award nominee Dotti Enderle, Grandpa for Sale is a charming children's picturebook about qualities worth far more than money. When young Lizzie minds the family antique store, an imperious older woman named Mrs. Larchmont demands to buy the one antique not on sale - Lizzie's slumbering grandpa! As the women offers more and more money - five hundred, five thousand, ten thousand dollars - Lizzie dreams of all the wonderful and fun things the money could buy, but also remembers how valueless those things would be without Grandpa to share them. "Lizzie took a deep breath and leaned in. 'Mrs. Larchmont,' she announced, 'not everyone has a price and not everything is for sale.'" The exuberant color illustrations perfectly complement this extravagant tale with a heartwarming moral.

Grandpa for Sale is an excellent book. It is written by Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum and illustrated by T. Kyle Gentry.

I am not sure which I like better in this book, the amazing illustrations or the original and thought provoking story. Gentry captures the essence of this story with his combination of black and white and color illustrations. There is color on every page which emphasizes the important parts of the story.

The story itself reminds me of when I was a child and how I would think "if I had a million dollars I would..." Lizzie, the main character, has the opportunity to fulfill her childhood fantasies but decides that they are not equal to the value of one beloved grandfather! A delightful story that my children thoroughly enjoyed (ages 10 and 7) and we will read again and again!

GRANDPA FOR SALE????? Well, perhaps you could get a lot of money for him. But then, who would give you as much love as Granpa gives? Who would play with you, as Grandpa does? Who would takes you places, as Granpa does? A good book to get children to realize that "money isn't everything". It would be impossible to set a price on a loved one.

Lizzie knows that she's capable of running Oldman's Antiques while her mother is out. But she doesn't expect the amazingly big-haired Mrs. Bradley Larchmont the Third to sweep into the store and fall in love with the one-of-a-kind antique displayed on the Louis XVI settee: Grandpa. Flashes of humor brightly illuminate the eventual lesson that not everything is for sale. The illustrator came up with some interestesting ways to illustrate Lizzie's big dreams as she wrestles with temptation.

I loved this book. Great illustrations and good lesson about value of those you love. Would recommend for ages 4 and up.

This book is full of brilliant nuggets of wisdom about what's truly important in life. Lizzie tends to her grandpa's antique store while her mom goes out on errands. In the ten minutes she's gone, she learns one of the most valuable lessons in life: not everything has a price.

A rather snotty, colourful character with a boat-load of cash waltzes into the store, intending to buy her way to what she truly wanted: to possess the world, and Lizzie's grandfather, too.

The illustrator, T. Kyle Gentry, underscores the book's message by playing with the colors. That which is unimportant is black and white, such as most of the items in the antique store itself. That which is valuable does have color. In Lizzie's eyes, the potential customer seems quite valuable in the beginning as she snatches up several items for purchase. Despite the woman's insistent bidding, Lizzie refuses to sell her grandpa napping on the Louis XVI couch.

The child's mind is wonderfully portrayed as Lizzie imagines what she could buy with each exponential increment of cash the woman offers for her grandfather. But at the end of each fantasy, she realizes it wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable if her grandfather weren't there to enjoy it with her.

Grandpa for Sale is a heart-warming tale of love and child-like wonder. I highly recommend it!

[...]

Every thing has a price, isn't that what we're told. Well Young Lizzie begs to differ with the extravagant Mrs. Larchmont. Not everything is for sale, certainly not Lizzie's beloved Grandpa. This story is well written, touching, and the illustrations are some of the best I have ever seen. Every book at Flashlight Press just gets better and better, if that is even possible!

You will fall in love with this story, you will marvel at the illustrations, you will immerse yourself in the vivid color, and root for young Lizzie as she goes face to face against Mrs. Larchmont. This is a child that knows what's really important in life.

Kyle Gentry's illustrations are a GIFT to us all!

Here's a new picture book destined to become a favorite of children of all ages everywhere!

Young Lizzie is minding the family antique store, carefully dusting all the priceless antiques while her grandpa snoozes on a Louis XVI settee.

For good measure, Lizzie even dusts Grandpa's bald head as he naps.

The bell over the door tinkles as a woman named Mrs. Bradley Larchmont the Third (no less) breezes in wearing a pink stole and suit, carrying a matching miniature poodle in her arms.

Mrs. Larchmont is on a buying spree, loading Lizzie down with all of her purchases, when she suddenly spies something she definitely must have - Grandpa!

When Lizzie tells Mrs. Larchmont that Grandpa is not for sale, Mrs. Larchmont pooh-poohs that idea, saying, "Nonsense, my dear. Everyone has a price."

And the price Mrs. Larchmont is willing to pay for Grandpa keeps getting higher and higher.

Readers of all ages will identify with Lizzie as she carefully considers what she could do with all the money each time Mrs. Larchmont ups the price she's willing to pay for Grandpa.

Rich, vibrant illustrations by T. Kyle Gentry add to the fun revealing what Lizzie envisions doing if she accepts any of Mrs. Larchmont's offers.

This delightful new picture book by authors Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum does such a great job of what picture books are designed to do - engage young readers (and listeners) in an interesting story told through a mix of text and pictures, written with just enough predictability to gently pull them along to a surprising but satisfying conclusion.

There's even a surprise added bonus on the back cover of the book. But I won't give that away here.

This book is another sure winner from Flashlight Press.

In Grandpa For Sale Lizzie must choose whether or not she should sell her grandpa. As Mrs. Larchmont offers more money to buy grandpa Lizzie imagines what she could do with the money and how she would feel if grandpa wasn't there to share them with her. What will Lizzie do?

Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum have done a great job writing a fun and imaginative story. The illustrations by T. Kyle Gentry are bright and blend seamlessly with the story. This is definitely a must have for those rainy spring days.

As seen in Fandangle (.....)