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Grandma's Smile

by Randy Siegel
32p. 978-1-59643-438-7.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—What is a boy willing to do to help his grandmother find her smile? The hero of this story patiently endures long lines at the airport check in, security gate, and boarding area, and a long flight. After all, when it comes to helping Grandma, "a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do." The message is delivered through the delightful voice of a precocious six-year-old who is sure that what he is doing is important. DiSalvo's watercolor illustrations bring to life Siegel's self-assured protagonist and his journey from the wintery north to his grandmother's arms. As the boy leaves his homey apartment on his journey to where his grandmother waits, the gray skies outside the airport gradually change to the sunny skies over her retirement community. As a result, readers feel as if they have accomplished a journey along with the undaunted boy and his mother.—Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT
When Grandma loses her smile, the only one capable of finding it is her six-and-three-quarters-year-old grandson, so he obliges by flying down to visit. Like the narration, which sounds nothing like a child's voice, the text, with its lampooning of air-travel woes, seems aimed squarely at grandparents. Nicely rendered illustrations capture the warmth of the characters' relationships.
Reviewed by Donna Cardon , Nov 01, 2010

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