Nana's Summer Surprise

PreS-Gr 2—The blended family that came together in Nana's Getting Married (2010) and Here Comes Hortense! (2012) is back with another rite-of-passage story: the awful moment when an infrequently seen adolescent companion has suddenly grown up, leaving the younger child behind. The unnamed young boy is happy to be spending the summer with Nana and Gramps (Nana's new husband) and doesn't mind that Bob's granddaughter will be at the lake house with them. Maybe they can even do lots of fun things together. Unfortunately, Hortense has turned into a teenager and is no longer interested in any of the activities they once shared. The boy's refrains for this book are appropriately, "Gross!" and "I am not impressed!" and it seems as if the whole summer will be ruined. Then Hortense comes up with a plan to celebrate Nana's birthday and the two children find a way to work together, finally enjoying each other's company and allowing the boy to realize that he's growing up, too. Graham's wacky, exaggerated, chalk pastel illustrations amplify the text's poignant humor. Because no backstory is offered, those who are already familiar with the characters may enjoy this title more than new readers who are likely to wonder about the relationships among the boy, the grandparents, and Hortense.—Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI