Grandma's Hurrying Child

by Jane Yolen, Kay Chorao (Illustrator)

As Grandma tells it, Maddy was a baby in a great big hurry. On the day she was born, everyone rushed to welcome her into the world. But Grandma, hurrying from far away, worried she wouldn't get to the birth in time.

This is the story of that special, perfect day when Grandma embraces her sweet hurrying child for the very first time. Master storyteller Jane Yolen and renowned illustrator Kay Chorao, both loving grandmas, have teamed up to create a warm read-aloud that children and their grandparents will want to share again and again.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Lauren Keaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summary: This book revolves around a grandmother telling her granddaughter about the story of her birth. The granddaughter was a "hurrying" child because she was born so quickly. Her grandmother also was hurrying to be there for the birth. Even the doctors were describing the child as a "hurrying" baby. The grandmother eventually arrives right after her granddaughter is born and the two have since formed a special relationship.

Theme: Special stories create close bonds between people.

Personal Response: I think this is a sweet story that the grandmother and granddaughter share, but I was not overwhelmingly pleased by the book. However, I did like how the pages illustrated two events going on at the same time but in different places, and it is nice to highlight the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren.

Recommendation: I am not sure that I would recommend this story to be read to students for critical literacy purposes. I think it is a nice story, but lacks any thought-provoking events. It would be hard to facilitate an insightful discussion about this book in one's classroom.

[PacaLipstick Gramma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this wonderful book with my grandson. Although this is a story about a little girl asking her grandma about when she was born, the story was still enjoyed by my 5 year old grandson. The illustrations were realistic and held his interest.

He asked me questions about when he was born, if I was there, did I come right away? He pointed out that he had blue eyes too!

A perfect little book to snuggle up with Gramma and talk about when they were born.

I would recommend this to all grandmas.

[Tina Harden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, illustration and flow, reminds me of a journal or diary. The drawings are colored pencil and have a warm "diary entry" feel to them.

You can feel the warmth and love for the unborn baby and then by the end you feel the same warmth and love for the young girl.

A family bond is strong and no distance or weather will prevent a reunion, or in this instance, a first-time meeting of family.

This is a good one to read to young children by parents and grandparents. I feel it can be a great bedtime story.

[Leta Huffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a special book because the Grandma was telling her grandaughter about her birth. This story talked about a deeper issue such as giving birth from a child's perspective. Through this book everyone feels the excitement and anticipation of the arrival of the characters' first born baby girl. The grandma in this story tells it from her point of view as well, since she is out of town and is rushing to get to the hospital before her granddaughter arrives.

[Kaedra Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a heartwarming story of a grandma rushing to see her granddaughter's birth in the hospital. She explains the whole day to her granddaughter. Children get involved with the story and can become emotionally involved with the characters. This book is fairly simple text and would be good for a younger reader. The soft illustrations fit very well with the story's style.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A granddaughter wants her grandmother to recall the story of her birth. So the grandma recounts how she rushed to get to the hospital three states away while her daughter (or daughter-in-law) was in labor.

Cute story about how the baby just couldn't wait to be born. Good story for a grandma who experienced the same thing. Could be read aloud for kindergarten around maybe Grandparents' Day.

[Lauren Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story for grandchildren and grandparents to read together. This shows a loving relationship that students can witness. They can also connect to the story by simply having grandparents.

[Polly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grandma tells her granddaughter the story of her "hurrying" birth, and her own hurry to get there in time.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet conversation starter about your little one's entrance into the world.