Grow Your Own

By Esther Hall

Year: 2011

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books, London

Age: 4 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN:  978 0 230 74794 4

This book about transition and its effect on the family is also a story of hope and optimism.

Sidney lives with his mum in the city. He eats food that comes out of boxes and his mum puts on grey clothes and works is a ‘big grey building.’

You, almost, know where this is heading...

Then, all the grays are banished by the vivid imagery of the countryside and the bright pop of home-grown vegetables and fruits. Thanks to Sidney’s grandmother whom he visits during his summer holidays. 

Sidney and his mum’s lives are turned around by this visit.

Excerpt

Sidney and his granny worked hard that summer, digging up vegetables and picking up fruit.

Every day Sidney tried something new to eat.

SO MUCH!

Text: Trish Cooke

Illustrations: Helen Oxenbury, Wikipedia

Year: 1994

Publisher: Walker Books, London

Age: 3 – 6 years

No. of Pages: 48

Book Type: Picture book

ISBN: 978 1 40630 665 1

This was our first experience of African-Caribbean life.

The book is centered around an adorable baby who's pampered and cuddled by a string of visiting relatives. One of them wants to squeeze him, another wants to kiss him. His doting grand-mammas want to eat him while a cousin wants to fight him. All because they love the baby SO MUCH!

The illustrations are striking in their attention to detail and each person is brought alive through the lyrical prose and paintings.

This book ought to be a collector’s item.:-)

Excerpt

Nannie and Gran-Gran came inside with their handbags cock up to one side and their brolly hook up on their sleeve.

“Yoooooo Hoooooo! Yoooooo Hoooooo!” they said. 

Spells-a-popping Granny’s Shopping

Text: Tracey Corderoy

Illustrator: Joe Berger

Year: 2013

Publisher: Nosy Crow, London

Age: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 0 85763 221 0

Tracey Corderoy’s distinctive lyrical prose takes us through the shopping adventure of a little girl and her granny who's ‘different.’

At the supermarket, Granny waves her wand and biscuits dance while popcorn pops. In just a few minutes, mayhem rules. However, Granny also helps to nab a couple of crooks and soon everyone’s ready to forgive Granny for her, errr… differences. :-)

Excerpt

Now Granny magicked animals off boxes, jars and tins.

Small yappy dogs and guinea pigs and cats with Cheshire grins.