Reviewed with Rosalind Beardshaw's
Grandpa's Surprise.
PreS. These oversize companion books capture the special relationships that exist between a grandparent and child. In Grandma's Beach, Emily's mom can't take her on a planned trip to the beach; instead, Emily will stay with Grandma. Emily is dejected, but Grandma uses her ingenuity to bring the beach to the backyard, complete with water from the sprinkler and enough dirt to build a sand castle. In the other volume, Jack won't let Stanley ride his new bicycle, but Grandpa uses a wooden cart and the wheels from a stroller to make a vehicle that's just as good. Simple, warm texts are part of the attraction here, but mostly it's Beardshaw's art, which fills up each page, that will capture the audience. Using thick strokes and a melange of summer fruit-colored paints, Beardshaw zooms in on her characters, using lots of close-ups to make them more endearing, and children will easily follow evolving facial expressions to see how situations can change from bad to better. Ilene Cooper
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Product Description
Emily and her mom are on their way to the seaside in Grandma's Beach; that is, until Mom gets a phone call and has to go into the office. Emily will have to visit her grandma instead. But Grandma doesn't live anywhere near the seaside. Luckily Grandma has some exciting plans up her sleeve. Will Grandma's beach be just as fun as the real one? This book shows that a powerful imagination and a loving granny make for spectacular fun anywhere!