A Grandma to Love (Ashling Kwok, illus Kathy Creamer, Little Pink Dog)

Tessa has always wanted a grandma to call her very own. When Tessa’s mum takes her to the local retirement village for ‘Adopt a Grandparent Day’, she meets many wonderful women who would all be good grandmas, but Tessa is drawn to Ivy, who sits apart from the others. Tessa doesn’t understand why Ivy is so sad and won’t talk, but she is determined to find out. A Grandma to Love by Ashling Kwok is a gentle story that explores the importance of intergenerational relationships and how little acts of kindness can affect the people around us. Kwok skilfully uses language appropriate for readers aged 4–10 and simple yet captivating text, giving the illustrations plenty of space to weave their magic and allow young readers to absorb the story. Kathy Creamer’s illustrations complement the story with vibrant colours and detailed full-page artwork. She portrays the growing relationship between Tessa and Ivy using montage sequences to great effect, bringing out their personalities and adding warmth to the story. A Grandma to Love is a story that reminds us of the importance of human connection and sharing stories across generations. Empathetic readers without grandparents may find comfort in this joyful story and even explore the idea of ‘adopting’ their own grandparent.

Books+Publishing reviewer: M H Alessandrino is a Perth based freelance writer and reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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