I Really Want to See You, Grandma

PreS-Gr 2--In this simple comedy of errors, a little girl and her grandma both decide to pay each other a visit on the very same day. Yumi takes a bus, and Grandma takes a train. Careful observers will note that just as the train travels under the bridge, Yumi's bus travels over it. "Oh, no!" cries Grandma upon arriving at Yumi's house and learning that her granddaughter has gone to see her. The little girl is equally "surprised," and they both hurry back to their respective homes. Grandma hails a taxi while Yumi shares a ride with a cow on a truck only to find that they have once again missed each other. Eventually, they meet under a large tree, jump gleefully into each other's arms, and agree that next time, they will meet in this very spot. This simple tale of mixed-up connections celebrates the special love between a grandparent and grandchild. Young readers will experience the pair's urgency, frustration, and joy as all's well that ends well. Gomi's signature art features childlike characters in a palette of browns highlighted by pink, orange, and other hints of color on a white background. The front endpapers feature Yumi's scooter; the back, Grandma's motorbike. VERDICT A perfect choice for units on transportation or family or to share on Grandparents' Day.--Barbara Auerbach, formerly at New York City Public Schools

Japanese author-illustrator Gomi (Bus Stops) imagines a transportation mix-up in which two journeys intersect in fun and serendipitous ways. Yumi lives on a hilltop, and Grandma lives across town, on a mountaintop. Impulsively, they both set out to visit each other on the same day. Yumi's bus drives over the bridge just as Grandma's train travels underneath it. Arriving at their destinations, they immediately discover their crossed paths. "Oh, no!" Yumi cries. But they meet, eventually, in the middle. The book's short, wide trim size contributes plenty of space for the landscapes to unfold, and Gomi's saturated colors have jewel-like tones; the richly textured watercolor washes in simple shapes have the soft look of fabric. There's gentle comedy in the big, obvious gestures of the neighbors who help explain the situation to Yumi and Grandma, and the different forms of transportation add interest. Unspoken, but also gratifying, is the idea of a place in which a small child can set out alone to see her Grandma in perfect safety. Ages 3-5. (Apr.)