Sometimes It's Grandmas and Grandpas: Not Mommies and Daddies
PreSchool-Grade 2—A young narrator lives with her Nonnie and Poppy in a loving and nurturing environment. Her parents are clearly not involved in her life, and she briefly wonders why. But her grandparents are there to read to her, play with her, and tuck her in at night, and their cuddles never run out. The text is gentle but a bit precious, and the overuse of the word "cuddle" can be annoying after a while. The realistic watercolor illustrations reinforce the reassuring mood of the story. No attempt is made to explain the circumstances that have necessitated this living arrangement, leaving it open for readers' interpretation. This once-unusual scenario is now common and there are few, if any, picture books that address the topic. Although the tale is somewhat bland, the book will likely fill a gap in many collections.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CTCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.