Granbad (Penny Tangey, illus Peter Baldwin, UQP)

Grandad is a rebel who breaks so many rules the family call him ‘Granbad’. He gives his grandchild lollies instead of healthy food, reads stories way past bedtime and flouts screen-time limits. He displays ‘rude’ words on his T-shirt, ignores his doctor’s advice, spray-paints graffiti and scales a pole with a ‘no climbing’ sign. He will break whatever laws are necessary to achieve his goal of saving the forest. Wearing a greater glider costume to highlight the marsupial’s endangered status, he joins his family on a protest march to Parliament House. When that is unsuccessful, Granbad camps in a tree until the bulldozers leave. ‘We did it for our grandkids,’ Granbad explains on the news. ‘Sometimes you have to break rules to do what’s right.’ Author and comedian Penny Tangey portrays Granbad as a wayward charismatic figure and Peter Baldwin’s lively and colourful comic-style illustrations enhance the caper. Children will enjoy Granbad’s subversive behaviour and welcome the book’s message about an elderly conservation activist trying to protect the natural world for future generations. Readers may even tackle the conundrum of when it is right, or not, to break rules. Granbad is a fun and thought-provoking tribute to grandfathers for Father’s Day and beyond.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Joy Lawn has worked for independent bookshops and blogs at Paperbark Words Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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Category: Reviews