Grandparents

This book's generic title does not hint at what it actually delivers--a warmhearted romance, with a dance party at the end. Scribbly multimedia spreads by graphic artist Osuna open on a view of portly Manuel--Grandfather--sitting in the dirt of his garden, an inquisitive bird perched on his head. A passing car broadcasts an invitation to a dance that night. His wife, Manuela--Grandmother--is not enthusiastic: "I'm not flitting from party to party like a girl anymore." Rapid-fire dialogue by Heras charms in Amado's natural-sounding translation. Grand-father coaxes Grandmother with a daisy. She resists--"I am as ugly as a chicken with no feathers"--but begins, grudgingly, to primp: "I'm going to hide my legs. They are as skinny as knitting needles." Grandfather's compliments pile up cumulatively, "Twelve Days of Christmas"-style, as quirky drawings offer more amusement, like one of Grandmother laid out on an ironing board, the better to address her wrinkles. Grandfather's boyish charm ("But you are so pretty... as pretty as the sun!"), Grandmother's sweet-tempered vanity, and their unabashed fondness for one another make it clear that grandparents are wholly alive, with their ability to flirt intact. Ages 3-8. (May)

K-Gr 2--Manuel and Manuela, also known as Grandmother and Grandfather, celebrate aging in a jocular dialogue with unique illustrations. Manuel hears news of a dance in the village and invites Manuela. She responds that she is as "ugly as a chicken with no feathers." As she proclaims the need for beauty products to mask parts of her face and body, Manuel counters with descriptive similes of adoration about her white hair "like a midsummer cloud" and dry lips "like sand in a desert." The story builds with repetition as he adds onto his list of compliments, finishing each time with "Now please hurry up. We have to go dancing!" On the final page, as they embrace on the dance floor, vignettes of their life together, both the momentous and the mundane, float around them in pencil and watercolor illustrations. Usuna's depictions of the couple are very simple with dot and line faces. Manuela always wears a coy smile, even as she self-deprecates. The surrounding scenes play with perspective, while pops of color highlight the characters amidst a soft wash of grey and blue. While the text flows beautifully and the odd illustrations are mesmerizing, will children appreciate the poetic notions, or just hear a woman repeatedly describe all of the things she hates about her appearance? VERDICT An additonal purchase about a sweet couple whose love has outlasted the test of time.--Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

"This book's generic title does not hint at what it actually delivers—a warmhearted romance, with a dance party at the end."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Fun and feisty—these memorable characters are a delight to know and revisit."
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)