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Grandma Is a Slowpoke
A little girl is happy to go on a walk with Grandma, but Grandma is a such a slowpoke! She stops to point out, listen or observe the different creatures they meet, sharing her knowledge with the child. At the river, it is the little girl who spots a little muskrat Grandma didn't see.
Grandma Is a Slowpoke is a simple story that delivers a powerful and joyous message to young readers (and adults). Let us pause, stop and be present with the creatures around us, because there is no hurry. Janet Halfmann's loving attention to animals and nature brings the delightful nature story to young children. Michele Coxon's beautiful fine color brush brings life to the creatures on each page, and makes the animals so endearing.
Grandma Is a Slowpoke is a simple story that delivers a powerful and joyous message to young readers (and adults). Let us pause, stop and be present with the creatures around us, because there is no hurry. Janet Halfmann's loving attention to animals and nature brings the delightful nature story to young children. Michele Coxon's beautiful fine color brush brings life to the creatures on each page, and makes the animals so endearing.
32 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2016
About the author
Janet Halfmann
80 books30 followersJanet Halfmann is a multi-award-winning children’s author who strives to make her books come alive for young readers and listeners. She writes about animals and nature, family and community, and little-known people of achievement. Janet has written almost fifty fiction and nonfiction books for children.
Janet was formerly a daily newspaper reporter, children’s magazine editor, and a creator of coloring and activity books for Golden Books. She has four children, seven grandkids, and two great-grands. Janet enjoys gardening, exploring nature, visiting living-history museums, and spending time with family. She grew up on a farm in MI and now lives in WI. More at: http://www.janethalfmannauthor.com
Janet was formerly a daily newspaper reporter, children’s magazine editor, and a creator of coloring and activity books for Golden Books. She has four children, seven grandkids, and two great-grands. Janet enjoys gardening, exploring nature, visiting living-history museums, and spending time with family. She grew up on a farm in MI and now lives in WI. More at: http://www.janethalfmannauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
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August 1, 2019Beautiful, soothing illustrations bring out the natural scenery of the plot and the love in the story. It can easily be a favorite to share with Grandma. The lessons in patience and observation are presented in a way that kids can understand.
The perspective of the "slowpoke" changes ... So who's the real slowpoke?
The perspective of the "slowpoke" changes ... So who's the real slowpoke?
April 5, 2017
Gentle text and images allow readers of any age to appreciate the delicate balance of long/short, old/young legs and minds. All the best picture book advice went into this one, with repetition, anticipation, ironic humor, and warm relationships enriching an already appealing story.
Will pair well with recent picture book release: SIDEWALK FLOWERS (JonArno Lawson).
Will pair well with recent picture book release: SIDEWALK FLOWERS (JonArno Lawson).
March 21, 2016
Sweet story about sharing life together. Granddaughter learns to appreciate her grandmother's slow paced outlook and begins to notice interesting things herself.
https://julianaleewriter.com/2016/03/...
https://julianaleewriter.com/2016/03/...
September 29, 2023
According to our sweet Goodreads Blurber:
"Grandma Is a Slowpoke is a simple story that delivers a powerful and joyous message to young readers (and adults). Let us pause, stop and be present with the creatures around us, because there is no hurry."
In what world is there no hurry? A world without multi-tasking? And no mobile phones?
My take on this story is different, as I'll get into with you Goodreaders.
VERY EARLY IN THE STORY, WHAT BECAME CLEAR?
Grandma was taking on the role of a teacher. One of the subtleties of the gorgeous illustrations by Michele Coxon was this: Showing the granddaughter's progressive interest in learning about nature.
Yet insulting Grandma, as in "Grandma Is a Slowpoke," continued to be a refrain. While the end of the book includes a joke that continued the insult. Supposedly, no doubt, cute.
BUT AGEISM ISN'T CUTE
Not to me, anyway. When I saw the cover, accompanying the book title, was the picture of a doddering grandmother, complete with a walking stick (like a cane?), being led by the hand, thanks to her kindly little granddaughter.
Yet that was just packaging for this book. I wonder, why did ageism have to be baked into the cake?
FIVE STARS because I liked the book text by Janet Halfmann -- except for the ageist insult -- and I really did think the illustrations were superb.
"Grandma Is a Slowpoke is a simple story that delivers a powerful and joyous message to young readers (and adults). Let us pause, stop and be present with the creatures around us, because there is no hurry."
In what world is there no hurry? A world without multi-tasking? And no mobile phones?
My take on this story is different, as I'll get into with you Goodreaders.
VERY EARLY IN THE STORY, WHAT BECAME CLEAR?
Grandma was taking on the role of a teacher. One of the subtleties of the gorgeous illustrations by Michele Coxon was this: Showing the granddaughter's progressive interest in learning about nature.
Yet insulting Grandma, as in "Grandma Is a Slowpoke," continued to be a refrain. While the end of the book includes a joke that continued the insult. Supposedly, no doubt, cute.
BUT AGEISM ISN'T CUTE
Not to me, anyway. When I saw the cover, accompanying the book title, was the picture of a doddering grandmother, complete with a walking stick (like a cane?), being led by the hand, thanks to her kindly little granddaughter.
Yet that was just packaging for this book. I wonder, why did ageism have to be baked into the cake?
FIVE STARS because I liked the book text by Janet Halfmann -- except for the ageist insult -- and I really did think the illustrations were superb.
September 12, 2018
“Grandma is a Slowpoke,” by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by Michele Coxon, is a lovely story of a grandmother and granddaughter out on a walk appreciating and observing the natural world. In the story, the little girl chides grandma for being such a slowpoke, always stopping to look and listen to what’s happening all around them. Grandma wants to show her young charge that life is to be experienced in all its natural beauty and wonder. Finally, the granddaughter gets into the swing of things and sees something her grandma’s old eyes missed. It’s a wonderful book to share across the generations.
The lush artwork by Michele Coxon adds to the appreciation, beauty, and wonder of nature presented throughout the book. Each illustration brings the reader into the story to see what the grandmother and granddaughter are seeing and experiencing. It’s a lovely book that works as a bedtime story the day before a nature walk or just before a nature walk as a “preview” of what you might see on your walk. Highly recommended for children ages 4 to 7 and pre-K through 2nd grade and the parents, grandparents, and teachers who want to share it with their students.
The lush artwork by Michele Coxon adds to the appreciation, beauty, and wonder of nature presented throughout the book. Each illustration brings the reader into the story to see what the grandmother and granddaughter are seeing and experiencing. It’s a lovely book that works as a bedtime story the day before a nature walk or just before a nature walk as a “preview” of what you might see on your walk. Highly recommended for children ages 4 to 7 and pre-K through 2nd grade and the parents, grandparents, and teachers who want to share it with their students.
July 2, 2017
love the amazing artwork and charming little story of spending time with Grandma
July 11, 2019
7/11/19 Read with Julia.
August 6, 2021
Slow down!!!
February 3, 2023
Halfmann has written a very sweet story for children showing a different perspective on taking your time and noticing the world around you. It would make a very nice story time book.
October 27, 2016
A little girl and her grandmother go for a walk. Grandma keeps stopping because she's a slowpoke. She's observing nature and telling the little girl all about the animals she sees. Sometimes it's good to slow down and look around. The little girl agrees by the end. This is a sweet story.
Ages 4-8
http://www.momsradius.com/2016/10/cyb...
Ages 4-8
http://www.momsradius.com/2016/10/cyb...
May 13, 2016
I wanted to like this so very much, but it struck out for me.
Strike one: Grandma may be a "slowpoke"--do kids really talk like this anymore? (The writing feels very stilted throughout the entire book.) If my daughter ever referred to her grandma as a "slowpoke", my daughter would quickly learn that she would need to find a new word...something with more respect and love. Which leads right into...
Strike two: Yes, the grandma here is a slowpoke for the sake of the story; she is "slow" so that she can show her grandaughter the wonders of nature. Wowie for her. Surely there was a better way of showing the audience this, then by shoving it down our throats in the telling? Show don't tell, tell, tell in the writing.
Strike three: the illustrations of the people are CREEPY. This is probably nothing whatsoever to do with the author as they usually have NO say in their illustrator (totally unfair, but that's life). The animals and the the scenery are charming, but the people have scary eyes and strange nose and look all out of proportion. What's up with that?
There are two pages of animal facts after the story ends, but they are not enough to save this sad book.
Strike one: Grandma may be a "slowpoke"--do kids really talk like this anymore? (The writing feels very stilted throughout the entire book.) If my daughter ever referred to her grandma as a "slowpoke", my daughter would quickly learn that she would need to find a new word...something with more respect and love. Which leads right into...
Strike two: Yes, the grandma here is a slowpoke for the sake of the story; she is "slow" so that she can show her grandaughter the wonders of nature. Wowie for her. Surely there was a better way of showing the audience this, then by shoving it down our throats in the telling? Show don't tell, tell, tell in the writing.
Strike three: the illustrations of the people are CREEPY. This is probably nothing whatsoever to do with the author as they usually have NO say in their illustrator (totally unfair, but that's life). The animals and the the scenery are charming, but the people have scary eyes and strange nose and look all out of proportion. What's up with that?
There are two pages of animal facts after the story ends, but they are not enough to save this sad book.
June 3, 2016
Being a grandma, I loved this story and look forward to sharing it over and over with my grandchildren. This story is told from the point of view of a young girl. She is looking forward to going on a walk with Grandma, but she is such a slowpoke, she stops all the time. On the way grandma points out lots of things in nature that she wants to share with her granddaugher. They see birds, squirrels, ducks, geese and they even stop to watch ants carry a big seed. When they get to the pond, the little girl sees something that grandma missed, now she becomes the slowpoke and wants to stay and watch.
This story carries a powerful message, the importance of slowing down in our fast, fast, rush, rush world and enjoy things around us. It is also a gentle reminder of what spending time with grandmothers might offer. It is important to spend time with older relatives, they have so much to teach and share with us. This book will become a family favourite.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This story carries a powerful message, the importance of slowing down in our fast, fast, rush, rush world and enjoy things around us. It is also a gentle reminder of what spending time with grandmothers might offer. It is important to spend time with older relatives, they have so much to teach and share with us. This book will become a family favourite.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2016
GRANDMA IS A SLOWPOKE
Written by Janet Halfmann
Illustrated by Michele Coxon
February 2016; 26 Pages
Genre: nature, picture book, children's
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review.)
★★★★
In this cute picture book we meet a young girl who goes out for a walk with her grandma. Right off she notices her Grandma is a slowpoke. Grandma looks at everything but she also teaches the young girl about the animals she stops and looks at. At the end of the book there is a little chart with pictures of the things Grandma and her granddaughter looked at. A fun book for parents and children to read together and learn about nature...or what a slowpoke Grandma.
k (My Novelesque Life)
Written by Janet Halfmann
Illustrated by Michele Coxon
February 2016; 26 Pages
Genre: nature, picture book, children's
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review.)
★★★★
In this cute picture book we meet a young girl who goes out for a walk with her grandma. Right off she notices her Grandma is a slowpoke. Grandma looks at everything but she also teaches the young girl about the animals she stops and looks at. At the end of the book there is a little chart with pictures of the things Grandma and her granddaughter looked at. A fun book for parents and children to read together and learn about nature...or what a slowpoke Grandma.
k (My Novelesque Life)
June 5, 2016
We live in such a fast-paced world and this sweet book reminds us that we should all take the time to be "slowpokes". A young girl and her grandma go on a walk, grandma is perhaps feeble and the granddaughter simply repeats how grandma is simply a slow poke. However, grandma is slow but very observant, she takes time to point out the beautiful things in nature; a squirrels nest, cardinals singing, they strength of ants and so on. This is a sweet book that will remind us to slow down and enjoy the beauty of nature that surrounds us.
*I received an ARC via NetGalley & Star Bright Books in exchange for an honest review.
*I received an ARC via NetGalley & Star Bright Books in exchange for an honest review.
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November 7, 2016In this grandmother's opinion, Janet Halfmann is a creative genius. She gets the point of slow walks with our grandchildren, how those strolls are an opportunity to share and inspire communication between the generations. Every grown-up, especially new parents, needs to read this to help them appreciate the pluses of being a slowpoke.
ARC provided by NetGalley
ARC provided by NetGalley
June 7, 2016
Is Grandma a slowpoke? Is she really? That is what you can determine in this finely illustrated book. The story is a very nice one and would be great for a grandma to read to her granddaughter.
December 31, 2016
Cybils nominee for best fiction picture book. More later.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews