Keeping Up With Grandma

by John Winch

Grandma keeps Grandpa very busy with her daredevil adventures, but eventually Grandpa shows her that the best things in life can be found right at home.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[AJ Hollis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeping Up with Grandma is a story narrated by a couples niece or nephew who highlights Grandma and Grandpas relationship and what they like to do. It begins by describing Grandmas hobby as making cakes and Grandpas as painting. Then one day Grandma decided they should get outside and do more things together. The book then comes full circle when the narrator asks "Why don't you do what you used to do, just like before?"

The overall theme of Keeping Up with Grandma is that it is valuable to seek change but also appreciating the things that we love in life.

I found myself very intrigued by the illustrations and was reminded of simple things in life that I appreciate that I should think about more.

I would recommend this book because of the beautiful illustrations and good reminder!

[Trisha Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute book for Storytime. It's short, but the story is sweet and engaging, and there are lots of opportunities for dialogic reading. I kept asking the kids "Where's Grandpa?" and they loved looking for him.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The amusing tale of a grandfather that likes to paint and the grandmother that like to garden. The grandmother mysteriously decides that their lives need shared adventure, and takes on a series of increasingly harrowing and exhausting hobbies that simultaneously terrify and mystify her husband. Still, he's a trooper for rolling with it despite not enjoying himself at any point along the way. At last, he manages to suggest that they return to the things they enjoyed before, and they go back to their happy and contented ways. The only thing that I wished for was that they came back changed in some small way from the experience, so that it all didn't seem like it was for naught. Maybe the grandfather could have returned to painting only to include objects from his adventures in his new art. They could have served as inspiration for new pictures.

[Karol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeping Up With Grandma is a fun romp! Such adventures - everything from mountain climbing to scuba diving. I love how the illustrations capture Grandma's lust for adventure, and Grandpa's "I'm not too sure about this" attitude. Very cute book, with wonderful illustrations and a nice touch of humor.

[Keegan Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband read this out loud while I was doing something else and he didn't love it. He said it was kind of sad, and the text didn't wow me, but the illustrations really make it a fun book. All this old couple's adventures are fun to watch.

[Kim Cassidy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pick this book up for the illustrations, which are really beautiful. I was a little disappointed in the story and got the impression that it was written primarily to showcase the artist's talent.

[Casandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor grandpa just cannot keep up with grandma! Best enjoyed with kids who get into interesting illustrations.
Grandparents