Our Granny [Paperback]

Margaret Wild (Author), Julie Vivas (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Two children compare their granny with others. Some grannies have thin legs, fat knees, crinkly eyes, or big soft laps. Their granny has a wobbly bottom and wears an old red sweater that was grandpa's. She has a style all her own--and to the children who love her, this granny is perfect. Full of warmth and good humor. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Australian duo Wild and Vivas ( The Very Best of Friends ; Let the Celebrations Begin! ) work their own special blend of magic in this affectionate ode to grandmothers of all sizes and hues. Here, a boy and a girl tell about grannies in general and their own in particular, from the way grannies dress--whether in "jeans and sneakers," "silky dresses" or "baggy underwear"--to what they do ("fix the plumbing," "march in demonstrations," "play in a band"). These are grannies for the '90s, active, vigorous women whose lives dispel traditional beliefs about aging. Wild's prose packs a punch ("Our granny does special exercises to make her bottom smaller") and, as always, Vivas's watercolors are brimming with humanity. There are no hard edges in the world she conjures; the grannies are real, flesh-and-blood women whose soft, rounded shapes speak of hugs and laughter and love. It's a splendid collaboration and an especially fine tool for sparking preschool and early-elementary discussions about families. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K-"Some grannies live in...apartments, big old houses, old people's homes, little rooms in the city, trailers.... Our granny lives with us in our house." Grandmotherly characteristics (interesting hair, crinkly eyes, friendly smiles); clothing (blue jeans, silky dresses, big bras, high heels); occupations (driving a truck, plumbing, working in an office); and ways of kissing (big sloppy ones, none at all) are catalogued. Eight to ten possibilities alternate with the comfortable, one-sentence statements of two children about their own relative. The lists are varied enough to stimulate the imagination and, combined with the return to a personal point of view, avoid the dullness often found in repetitive formats. The text is large and clear. Vivas's translucent watercolor figures, surrounded by ample white space, spread over the pages and emphasize shape and movement. The perspectives are interesting-Granny marching in a demonstration is seen from above; there is a closeup of the heads and shoulders of three pursed-lipped grandmothers, one kissing the cheek of a delighted toddler. A variety of women-black, white, hip, punk, and traditional-are depicted with warmth and humor, yet all have a lumpy, rounded, saggy-baggy appearance. An affectionate book that affirms the endless diversity of people, life styles, and families.
Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (March 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395883954
• ISBN-13: 978-0395883952
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #391,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A touching, humorous, gentle desc. of differences & love, February 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Our Granny (Hardcover)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book when reading it to my Grandchildren and my adult friends, but I found myself in 'book heaven' when sitting with my 6 year old Granddaughter while she read the book to me. This is a wonderful book to describe differences in people, their lifestyles, sizes, interests, careers and ways of expressing affection. The illustrations are perfect. I think this book makes a perfect gift for new Grandparents.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Grannies: Unzipped, December 6, 2004

By 

Kotori (Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Our Granny (Paperback)

Presented in a no-holds barred disclosure, grannies; warts and all.

Frank drawings let us into grandma's gym - wobbly bottoms abound, and special underwater views of grannies fat rolls in togs.

A glorious celebration of cellulite, big bra's and sloppy kisses...
Introduced by two children talking about their granny & the other types of grannies in the world - where they can live, how they can work, what they can wear and what they do for fun (golfing, bowling, tennis or dancing). Their grandmother marches in demonstrations & lives with them.

It's an easy to read book, with some great illustrations, and your children will love it.

However, children generally don't need to be encouraged with precocity, for instance telling people "our granny has wobbly bottom" is not something I would encourage in my son.

Depending on how broad-minded you and your family are - it's a very "modern" book, encouraging us to have no inhibitions, for example a grannie is pictured in her bra & underpants...

I wouldn't dream of letting my grandmother see this book, but some (grannies)will find it warm & funny.

I definately have mixed feelings about this book. It's not one I would purchase (we borrowed our copy from the library) and not one I would borrow again, but we did enjoy it whilst we had it.
The illustrations are excellently executed, soft and rounded & colourful, and the book is warmly humorous.

kotori [e-mail]

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Our Granny", November 8, 2000

By 

A Kentucky reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Our Granny (Hardcover)

A very cute story that does an excellent job of erasing the stereotypical view of "grannies". As the book explains, grannies can be all different shapes and sizes and enjoy a variety of activities. This would be a good book to explain individual differences as well as unique qualities.

The wonderful illustrations of watercolor add extra warmth and humor to this fun-loved story!