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Grandma Calls Me Beautiful
A companion to the best-selling
36 pages, Hardcover
First published March 26, 2008
2 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Barbara M. Joosse
67 books47 followers[Author also goes by the name Barbara Joosse.]
Barbara M. Joosse has written many books for children. Among them are Mama, Do You Love Me?, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee; and I Love You the Purplest, illustrated by Mary Whyte. She says, "When I was a little girl, I wished for two things — a best friend, and something so ferocious it would scare away the monsters under my bed. And so I have written Lovabye Dragon. I think maybe it’s for little me." Barbara Josse lives in Wisconsin.
Barbara M. Joosse has written many books for children. Among them are Mama, Do You Love Me?, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee; and I Love You the Purplest, illustrated by Mary Whyte. She says, "When I was a little girl, I wished for two things — a best friend, and something so ferocious it would scare away the monsters under my bed. And so I have written Lovabye Dragon. I think maybe it’s for little me." Barbara Josse lives in Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 21, 2008
A follow up to Mama Do You Love Me and Papa Do You Love Me. My parents visit Hawaii every year for their anniversary. My husband and I are expecting our first child and it will be my Mom's first grandchild. She cried when she read this!
So beautiful! Truly captures the beauty of Hawaii with the beauty of a grandparents love for their grandchild.
So beautiful! Truly captures the beauty of Hawaii with the beauty of a grandparents love for their grandchild.
January 11, 2024
Grandma, who looks a lot like her granddaughter, calls her "Beautiful." Okaay.
It's going to take all of Barbara Joose's considerable charm to make me like this book. As a feminist, I believe there could be higher praise for a female person than to make a big deal of her beauty.
Once more, the author's poetic language is on display. So too are the supposedly adorable questions about whether her grandma will always love her. For instance:
What if I grew very, very big
and you grew very, very small,
and I sat on your lap and
squashed you flat?
Lovely though it was to visit Hawaii, via this book, it kind of left me cold. However, let's face it, I'm not the intended reader for this book. I'm guessing:
This would be a child who wants more love. Or ANY grandmother who would ever buy a book, or read a book to any grandchild. On their behalf, this book receives FIVE STARS.
It's going to take all of Barbara Joose's considerable charm to make me like this book. As a feminist, I believe there could be higher praise for a female person than to make a big deal of her beauty.
Once more, the author's poetic language is on display. So too are the supposedly adorable questions about whether her grandma will always love her. For instance:
What if I grew very, very big
and you grew very, very small,
and I sat on your lap and
squashed you flat?
Lovely though it was to visit Hawaii, via this book, it kind of left me cold. However, let's face it, I'm not the intended reader for this book. I'm guessing:
This would be a child who wants more love. Or ANY grandmother who would ever buy a book, or read a book to any grandchild. On their behalf, this book receives FIVE STARS.
March 10, 2022
Grade range: k-2
Genre: realistice fiction
I loved the lesson that this book teaches! It shows how everything around you is just as beautiful as yourself and how the things around you have a huge part in who you are today. I think that it is really important to teach students that each and every one of them are specially and individually unique and this book is the perfect way to teach them this! I also love how diverse Grandma Calls Me Beautiful by including elements of the Hawaiian culture. This book would be a great way to teach about different cultures in the classroom!
Genre: realistice fiction
I loved the lesson that this book teaches! It shows how everything around you is just as beautiful as yourself and how the things around you have a huge part in who you are today. I think that it is really important to teach students that each and every one of them are specially and individually unique and this book is the perfect way to teach them this! I also love how diverse Grandma Calls Me Beautiful by including elements of the Hawaiian culture. This book would be a great way to teach about different cultures in the classroom!
April 20, 2018
I think this is a great book to use in the classroom because it is diverse and includes a culture that not many childrens books talk about. This book is about a little girl and her grandmother. They have a great relationship and throughout the book, her grandmother talks about how she finds the little girl beautiful. This book is based in Hawaiian culture. The illustrations reminded me of the disney movie "Moana" and give off a very warm feeling.
December 2, 2019
5/5 stars
4-5th grade
Realistic fiction
I loved the lesson of this book! It truly shows how every aspect of your life can be beautiful and it makes you who you are today! Even when you are going through struggles, everything happens for a reason and changes you. I wish I would have read this book sooner, as I think it uplifts you’re spirits while you are reading it and I think kids will get the same feeling when they are reading it too!
4-5th grade
Realistic fiction
I loved the lesson of this book! It truly shows how every aspect of your life can be beautiful and it makes you who you are today! Even when you are going through struggles, everything happens for a reason and changes you. I wish I would have read this book sooner, as I think it uplifts you’re spirits while you are reading it and I think kids will get the same feeling when they are reading it too!
May 1, 2020
Book Selection Review # 6
I love that this book is about a grandmother and her granddaughter. The bond between a grandmother and a granddaughter is a beautiful thing. I chose to read this book because it is close to home my grandmother calls my daughter beautiful all the time so I will be buying this book for my grandmother. The illustrations are natural water paint colors. Colors and song are important in this book they are descriptive and and have representation within the story.
I love that this book is about a grandmother and her granddaughter. The bond between a grandmother and a granddaughter is a beautiful thing. I chose to read this book because it is close to home my grandmother calls my daughter beautiful all the time so I will be buying this book for my grandmother. The illustrations are natural water paint colors. Colors and song are important in this book they are descriptive and and have representation within the story.
January 23, 2026
Realistic Fiction
Pre-K - Elementary
This is a great story for all ages! I would read this book to my students in the beginning of the school year to show them what cultural differences are, what they can look like, and how beautiful they are. This could make a student who feel different feel more accepted in the classroom. This book is creative and colorful and engaging. This is a great book!
Pre-K - Elementary
This is a great story for all ages! I would read this book to my students in the beginning of the school year to show them what cultural differences are, what they can look like, and how beautiful they are. This could make a student who feel different feel more accepted in the classroom. This book is creative and colorful and engaging. This is a great book!
June 15, 2017
This book is about a hawaiian girl and her grandmother. No matter what, her grandmother reminds her that she is beautiful and that is why her name is Beautiful.
The media here seems to be watercolor.
I would use this book when teaching about some hawaiian culture. I would also keep it on the classroom bookshelf.
The media here seems to be watercolor.
I would use this book when teaching about some hawaiian culture. I would also keep it on the classroom bookshelf.
April 30, 2023
This book does a really great job of representing Hawaiian culture. There are some larger words that children may struggle with when reading, but the story itself is beautiful. It does a great job showing that everything around you, yourself included, is beautiful. The grandmother and granddaughter have a very close and loving relationship, which helps the story feel even more grand.
May 9, 2019
Sweet and poetic and beautifully illustrated. This picture book has a great message and portrays a wonderful relationship between grandmother and granddaughter. Because Native Hawaiian words are used, the glossary and pronunciation guide at the end were helpful and informative.
October 27, 2019
This would be a great read aloud book in a classroom. This book is a hard book for a young reader to get through because of the powerful message being that people who are close to you care for you and will support you no matter what you do.
July 10, 2020
Wonderful story for grandmother and child!
June 21, 2022
K- 6th
Traditions/ History
Picture Book
Self-Esteem
I like this book because of the wisdom from grandma and how Beautiful has become the granddaughter's name.
Traditions/ History
Picture Book
Self-Esteem
I like this book because of the wisdom from grandma and how Beautiful has become the granddaughter's name.
September 15, 2023
Sweet story. I loved the start string directions in the back of the book....but I'm still struggling to figure some of them out.
February 15, 2017
This book is sweet and endearing. It is about a grandmother and her young granddaughter who live in Hawaii, and the grandmother tells the child the story about her birth and then goes on to talk about how she will always love her and think that she is beautiful no matter what. Throughout the text, a rich combination of colors and Hawaiian language is used to make it as culturally rich as possible. In the back of the book, the author even added a page that taught the reader how to pronounce each Hawaiian word, what it meant, and context it was used in. I really loved this book because it was sweet, educational, and fun. I think young children would like it because of it's colors and unique cultural story line.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2013
The main idea of this fiction story is the special bond between a grandchild and her grandmother but from a different cultural perspective than my own. Family is a great thing to have and be around. Grandmothers possess warmth and love. The main characters in the story are Tutu (the grandma) and Beautiful.
As a literacy teacher I could use this text in my classroom by learning about different cultures and new Spanish words. I could also do a guided reading lesson with the students as well. An activity for the students consist of allowing the students to make their own story by drawing a picture of their grandmother and themselves doing something that they love to do together. I want all of my students to feel welcomed when entering my classroom. My goal is to make each of them feel like they belong there. Students may not be able to relate to this specific family type described in the story but it will give them an idea of how different each persons culture is.
The author, Barbara M.Joosse, is not from Mexico. She lived a simple life and just loved to write about children because she love them. The illustrator, Barbara Lavallee, has been to many places outside of the United States and feels like her experiences from different places allows her to be more diverse in her illustrations.
As a literacy teacher I could use this text in my classroom by learning about different cultures and new Spanish words. I could also do a guided reading lesson with the students as well. An activity for the students consist of allowing the students to make their own story by drawing a picture of their grandmother and themselves doing something that they love to do together. I want all of my students to feel welcomed when entering my classroom. My goal is to make each of them feel like they belong there. Students may not be able to relate to this specific family type described in the story but it will give them an idea of how different each persons culture is.
The author, Barbara M.Joosse, is not from Mexico. She lived a simple life and just loved to write about children because she love them. The illustrator, Barbara Lavallee, has been to many places outside of the United States and feels like her experiences from different places allows her to be more diverse in her illustrations.
May 8, 2015
Pre-k through grade 3
I really liked this one. My only small complaint is the way the people are drawn. My daughter couldn't get past why they had half dark half light faces, split down the middle. She couldn't focus on the story because she kept waiting for the explanation on why they were split like that, though it was just an illustration choice. The other aspects of the illustration were really pretty though.
This book gives kids an interesting peek into Hawaiian culture. It uses Hawaiian words (and gives definitions at the end) as well as discussing some of the culture, for example using string to tell a story, by finger weaving it as the storyteller speaks. At the end of the book there are directions so that students can make their own hei (string design), which would be a nice activity to go along with the story.
Most of the language, with the exception of the Hawaiian words, is pretty simple. There are a few rare words or concepts the children might be unfamiliar with, such as "coral reef" or "squirming."
I would use this book during lessons on Hawaii or various American cultures in general.
I really liked this one. My only small complaint is the way the people are drawn. My daughter couldn't get past why they had half dark half light faces, split down the middle. She couldn't focus on the story because she kept waiting for the explanation on why they were split like that, though it was just an illustration choice. The other aspects of the illustration were really pretty though.
This book gives kids an interesting peek into Hawaiian culture. It uses Hawaiian words (and gives definitions at the end) as well as discussing some of the culture, for example using string to tell a story, by finger weaving it as the storyteller speaks. At the end of the book there are directions so that students can make their own hei (string design), which would be a nice activity to go along with the story.
Most of the language, with the exception of the Hawaiian words, is pretty simple. There are a few rare words or concepts the children might be unfamiliar with, such as "coral reef" or "squirming."
I would use this book during lessons on Hawaii or various American cultures in general.
April 19, 2012
In the story Grandma Calls Me Beautiful written by Barbara M Joosse, a little girl can never get enough love from her Grandmother. Beautiful, the little girls name in the book, asks her grandmother to tell her the story of when she was just a little baby. She asks her Grandma to tell "our story". This book tells a story filled with love. The loving relationship between Grandmother and Beautiful is undeniable throughout the story. It is really neat to be exposed to all the native language that is brought into the story as well. Having native words introduced in stories makes the reader really feel included.
The illustrations by Barbara Lavallee are beautiful. The watercolors of the Hawaiian landscape make for a beautiful read. I would recommend this story to 1st or 2nd graders. There is also a glossary in the back of the book for readers to reference as they go along in the story, or afterwords to see the native culture and language.
The illustrations by Barbara Lavallee are beautiful. The watercolors of the Hawaiian landscape make for a beautiful read. I would recommend this story to 1st or 2nd graders. There is also a glossary in the back of the book for readers to reference as they go along in the story, or afterwords to see the native culture and language.
March 4, 2013
The main idea of this story is the special bond between a grandchild and her grandmother but from another cultural perspective. Family is a great thing to have and be around. Grandmothers have that warmth and love. The main characters in the story are Tutu (the grandma) and Beautiful. This book is fiction.
As a literacy teacher I could use this text in my classroom by learning about different and new Spanish words. I could also do a guided reading lesson with the students as well. An activity for the children is that I can allow the children to make their own story by drawing a picture of their grandmother and themselves doing something that they love to do together.
The author, Barbara M.Joosse, is not from Mexico. She lived a simple life and just loved to write and loved children. The illustrator, Barbara Lavallee, has been to many places outside of the United States and feels like her experiences from different places allows her to be more diverse in her illustrations.
As a literacy teacher I could use this text in my classroom by learning about different and new Spanish words. I could also do a guided reading lesson with the students as well. An activity for the children is that I can allow the children to make their own story by drawing a picture of their grandmother and themselves doing something that they love to do together.
The author, Barbara M.Joosse, is not from Mexico. She lived a simple life and just loved to write and loved children. The illustrator, Barbara Lavallee, has been to many places outside of the United States and feels like her experiences from different places allows her to be more diverse in her illustrations.
November 28, 2024
Grade: pre k-2nd
Genre: poetry
This book is cute and has great illustrations. It’s about a relationship between a grandma and grandchild. Sets place in Hawaii and the drawings and colors are pretty and vibrant.
Genre: poetry
This book is cute and has great illustrations. It’s about a relationship between a grandma and grandchild. Sets place in Hawaii and the drawings and colors are pretty and vibrant.
February 18, 2016
This was a cute little story. It talked about being who you are. Many people don't understand they don't have to change for somebody else and that they can be whomever they want to be. If you change as you grow, that is a different story. This story talked about being beautiful all the time. You aren't supposed to let your guard down and say I'm ugly or I just don't feel beautiful today. You are always going to be beautiful in somebody else's eyes if not in your own. This is a big concept even adults and kids struggle with today and it is sad to live in a society that is so judgmental about how people look, wealth, etc.
October 1, 2009
In Grandma Calls Me Beautiful, by Barbara M. Joosse, the author tells a story of a young Hawaiian girl an her close relationship with her Grandmother. The story flows nicely the way it is written. The author uses some words that are most likely unfamiliar to those who are not from Hawaii and therefore provides the reader with a rich exposure to the Hawaiian culture. Children of many cultures can certainly identify with the loving relationship between the Grandma and her granddaughter. I would recommend this book to be used with students in second grade or older.
May 22, 2010
There's a lot to like in this book. First of all: Aloha, Hawaii! I can't remember if I've ever read a picture book that is set in Hawaii and includes bits of Hawaiian culture. What's especially important about this book, though, is how loving the grandmother is with her granddaughter. No matter how she challenges her grandmother, she still can't find a way that she isn't beautiful in her grandmother's eyes. I just love the message of self-love and inter-generational connection. Great for preschool and early elementary.
December 9, 2012
In this beautifully illustrated, touching book, a little girl listens as her grandmother tells her their special story. It is an intimate moment between them that we are able to witness through this book. The grandmother tells the story using a string in the first few pages. The little girl has many questions that the grandmother always answers the same way, giving the little girl reassurance and love, and imparting to the girl some of the traditions of her people. The end of the book holds a glossary of Hawaiian words and instructions for a simple string design.
December 7, 2010
The grandma in this book tells her granddaughter over and over that she is beautiful. She makes many comparisons to things in Hawaii, where the story takes place. There is also a word glossay at the end of the book.
January 10, 2014
I had high hopes for this book, because I love "Mama Do You Love Me?", and "Papa Do You Love Me?", which are also by her. This one didn't gel as well for me, but I did really like how it explained many aspects of traditional Hawaiian culture in a way small children can understand.
February 22, 2015
This story is really neat! I love how the Grandma compares her granddaughter's beauty to that of Hawaii. It is a great way to teach students about the cultural differences of Native Hawaiians. The illustrations are beautiful and really draw the reader into the story.
August 27, 2015
I chose this book because it was about a grandma and I have a close relationship to my grandma. I liked this book, because I could imagine the love that these two characters share for each other. My grandma and I share this same amount of love for each other.
February 16, 2009
This is just like Joosse's other books. Will work for a family looking for a sweet Grandma story. Ages 2+
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May 22, 2017This is a book about a grandma and her granddaughter. The granddaughter doesn't think she is beautiful but the grandma makes sure to let her know that she is beautiful in every way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews