From School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2—Lou visits Grandad and Pops every Saturday, and each week, the boy joins them in their unique ways of celebrating the day. Grandad likes reading the news and creating inventions with Lou, while Pops enjoys rock-and-roll videos and creating interesting culinary concoctions. Lou is happy, until one day Pops has a bad fall and must use a wheelchair. He begins to act less like himself, worrying Lou and Grandad. Together they create an idea to make Pops feel better and to enjoy one another's company once more. Smith has created a heartwarming story about family relationships and how to help loved ones through difficult transitions. Each of the adults helps Lou understand the world a bit better, and Lou himself struggles with his emotions before creating a perfect solution. The story is consistent with the French language edition, with only a few cultural sound effects and expressions changing between languages. The text is legible and simple, with no difficult vocabulary, and is assisted beautifully by Kerrigan's artful illustrations. Each picture provides little details that let readers better understand the personalities of Lou, Grandad, and Pops. They also assist the story greatly by expressing some complex emotions through drawing, especially after Pops falls and life changes. VERDICT A beautiful and uplifting book to help children learn how to handle challenges and help others; a great choice for intergenerational picture book shelves.—Margaret Kennelly, iSchool at Urbana-Champaign, IL
Review
"A positive and realistic representation of both a wheelchair user and an elderly, interracial gay male couple. " ― Kirkus Reviews
"Accompanied by Kerrigan's muted, pastel-coloured illustrations… Smith's narrative creates a fully rounded and sympathetic storyline with characters with whom youngsters will likely be able to identify…A delicious, enjoyable, and necessary narrative for modern families with a non-normative makeup. Highly Recommended." ― CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"A fond and sympathetic story, told with attractive particulars, of the challenging pitfalls of aging and their effects on the family…[A] welcome reminder that even after a daunting change, family can still be family." ― The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A beautiful and uplifting book to help children learn how to handle challenges and help others; a great choice for intergenerational picture book shelves." ― School Library Journal
"The bond between Lou and [their] loving grandparents shines through in this unique story. The matter-of-factness of their relationship is worth noting, as this type of representation for same-sex couples will help children appreciate the diversity that exists in many families, without overstating it." ― Resource Links
"Uplifting and empowering, A Plan for Pops is a great read with inspiring messaging and lovely illustrations." ― Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk blog
"A marvelous book on many, many levels and deserves a wide readership. Pick it up for your children, grandchildren, grandparents, or others in your lives, and recommend it to all the children’s librarians you know." ― Mombian blog
"Add this one to your go-to list." ― Kiss the Book blog
"[Children] will be instantly drawn in by the warmth and love that binds these three characters together." ― Youth Services Book Review
“Smith’s characters are real and honest…Kerrigan’s digital artwork…is both engaging and touching.” ― Canadian Children's Book News
“Whatever message a young child gets out of this book, it will be a powerful one… This book is an excellent choice for the pre-school land the early elementary-aged child.” ― Must Read Literature: K thru YA
“A warm intergenerational story accompanied by expressive illustrations full of engaging detail.” ― The Horn Book Online
“One of those books that bursts out of its ages 3 - 5 range because of its tender, funny pictures and heartwarming storyline that speak to the best in humanity, at any age.” ― Spirituality & Practice
Book Description
This complex contraption has one simple task: to make Pops smile.
From the Inside Flap
STEM, grandparents, intergenerational relationships, aging, community, LGBTQ+, inventions
About the Author
Originally from Newfoundland, Heather Smith now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her family. Her Newfoundland roots inspire much of her writing. Her middle-grade novel Ebb and Flow was short-listed for the Governor General's Literary Award, and her YA novel The Agony of Bun O'Keefe won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award and was short-listed for the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award and the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People.
Brooke Kerrigan has loved to draw ever since she was a little girl, so it seemed only natural that she would grow up to be an artist. Of all her creative endeavors, illustrating children's books is her favorite. Born in Toronto, Ontario, she currently lives with her husband in the French Alps, in a little town that inspires her every day. For more information, visit brookekerrigan.com.
