Grandpa's Stories: A Picture Book About Remembering a Loved One and Moving Forward

by Joseph Coelho, Allison Colpoys (Illustrator)

One young girl reflects on a year with her beloved grandpa. She remembers the fields and parks they explored in the springtime and the old toys they fixed up in the summer. She remembers the handmade gifts they exchanged in the fall and the stories Grandpa told by the fi re each winter. But this year, the girl must say good-bye to Grandpa. In the face of her grief, she is determined to find a way to honor him. She decides to record her Grandpa stories in the notebook he made for her and carry Grandpa with her as she grows. An honest and relatable depiction of loss, Grandpa’s Stories celebrates life and the ways in which love lives on. 
 

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Death, Grief, Childrens, Love, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 2018

About the author

Joseph Coelho is a British poet and children's book author who was elected Children's Laureate in 2022.

Reviews

[Kay]

If All The World

I apologise. This review comes from the heart and not the mind. Please bear with me - this book has tugged at my heartstrings and stabbed me straight through.

As of July, my grandmother will have been gone from this world for 3 years. She was such an integral part of my life that I still feel a gaping hole in my chest that never gets smaller.



"If all the world were springtime, I would replant my grandad's birthdays so that he would never get old."

These words cling to my very soul. The adventures that the grandad and granddaughter have are so sweet and so beautifully illustrated that you can feel the life breathed into the pages; so artfully, so carefully and delicately. And so, so real.



My Granny and I spoke of the moon and the stars often. We spoke of birds, of life and of love. We laughed and cried together.



"If all the world were dreams, I would mix my bright Grandad feelings and paint them over sad places."

I used to snuggle up with my Granny, too. And she would tell me the most wonderful stories about her life and about Grandpa. And she drew beautiful birds, just like those featured in this book.



"But some tales are silent." I held her hand as she died. I will never forget its softness, and its small, small size - wizened by wrinkles and experience.





In this book, the little girl keeps the memory of her grandpa alive through writing and drawing. This is such an important but beautiful message. Like the little girl, I imagine all the promises of adventure that my Granny and I planned. And that is what you call living memory. Sometimes we can't keep the people we love alive forever, but we keep them forever alive in our hearts.



He says "You're too old to hold hands. But still I hold his giant hand. And we explore, hand in hand."



Without further ado, here is a picture of the woman who helped raise me, instill my love for reading and help me become the person I am today. I miss you so, so much Granny. I just felt that I needed to keep her memory alive, just like this little girl did.

This is such an important book for children who have lost their grandparents - not just children. I was a grown woman when I lost Granny and it's helping me deal with my loss.



I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Apologies for the spill of emotions that pour from this review - know that you as author and illustrator have created something so, so meaningful and beautiful.

[PattyMacDotComma]

5★++
“If all the world were memories, the past would be rooms I could visit and in each room would be my grandad.”

The author says on the (back) cover “For everyone who misses someone.”
What a wonderful idea and what a wonderful book! A young child shows us what it’s like going through the seasons with Granddad.

Illustration of walking hand in hand with Granddad in the spring and seeing a bird’s nest.

I can’t confirm whether the child is a girl or a boy, and I suspect that’s probably the point. A bond between that generation gap transcends gender. Kids and old folks operate on a different wave-length from the busy in-between generations.

Summertime is time for fun outdoors in the yard with parents and toys.

Illustration of playing outside with cars with Granddad.

Autumn is time for creativity. Writing stories, drawing pictures, using your imagination.

Illustration of Granddad giving a special hand-made book and rainbow pencil to write down and draw dreams.

And then there’s winter – indoor activities.

Illustration of Granddad reading and telling stories about ships, snakes, tigers!

Then we go to a marvellous illustration of an imagination full of all of Granddad’s stories and ideas.

Illustration of talking to Granddad and imagining pictures of all of his stories.

It seems Granddad might be from India or thereabouts, but we don’t really know that either. You can see the pictures on the wall and figure out what you can. But really, who cares? This is universal.

It’s simply one of the most beautiful children’s picture books I’ve seen about how to remember a grandparent. No, scratch that. I mean scratch the qualifier. It’s just one of the loveliest children’s picture books, full stop.

I am not a tearful reader, but this one . . . oh my goodness.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for the preview copy and to the author for writing it and to Allison Colpoys for the magical illustrations!

[Shai]

If All the World is a children's storybook that narrates the story of a little girl and his memories with his late grandad. Those who can read this would undoubtedly be touched by the compelling memories and wishes of the girl for his grandpa. One of the most poignant lessons that readers can get from the story is that the love by our loved ones may still linger or stay with us, even if they are already gone.

[Caro]

This is a children's story about family, love, and loss.

The book is beautifully illustrated and is written in a poetic and engaging prose. Each page has colorful images depicting a little girl's time spent with her grandfather until one day the he is no longer in the picture.

The book does not describe explicitly how the child deals with the loss but we learn how she copes with it by watching the activities she's engages in after he's gone.

While reading this book images of my loving grandparents came to mind, they might be long-gone but never forgotten. I could relate to the little girl in the story.

Overall, a moving and emotional book for everyone.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley

[Hilary]

A little girl tells of all the things she loves to do with her grandad. One day he dies and they clear his house and the little girl finds a book that she decides to write memories of their time together in. The illustrations were very nice, lovely colours and an interesting style. I don't think you'd want to read this with a child unless they were suffering from the loss of a grandparent. I didn't like how the grandfather tells the little girl who looks about 4 or 5 that she's too old to hold hands, seemed an odd thing to add, especially in a book about loss.

[Emma]

A beautifully illustrated book dealing with bereavement of a grandparent and the memories the child had. Coelho remembers himself how drawing, recording , writing stories were all so important to him growing up and the child in the book is encouraged to record her feelings and memories in just such a way. Suitable for children 3 to 9.

[Jane]

In If All the World, author Joseph Coelho has written an understated story that packs a huge emotional punch. I do not have the words to express how truly lovely this book is, but the illustrations by Allison Colpoys certainly do it justice.



I highly recommend this read for people of all ages as a reminder that even though we're all missing people, our memories of those who are gone help us to keep them alive in our hearts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[James]

This is a really nice book (Joseph Coelho) with very lovely illustrations throughout (Allison Colpoys) - with difficult subject matter, it's all about a child coping with loss and bereavement. 'If all the world were..' is effectively, simply, unpretentiously and affectingly told.

[madame Gabrielle]

4.5 parce que c’est magnifique et triste, mais c’est que c’est la vie. c’est sa beauté et sa dureté aussi. et j’en aurais pris plus parce que c’est la famille, mais c’est un bel bel album jeunesse!

[Noura Khalid (theperksofbeingnoura)]

Thank you Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group (Frances Lincoln Childrens) for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The author says on the back cover that this book is dedicated to everyone who misses someone. The story is something that I think everyone can relate to. We've all lost someone and we all miss them. The art was beautiful and really colorful. The story was touching. It teaches us that we all lose people and what's important is for us to keep their memories alive, and my doing that they'll always be with us.

[Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews]

*** Note: I received e-ARC of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Publishers and NetGalley. ***

Book is about little girl who loved her granddad dearly and carries his memory along with her. I liked the blurb and purpose of writing the book.

Book started with little girl telling the activities she did with her granddad in different seasons and shows her love for granddad by telling how happy she was how much she enjoyed all the time of all season with her granddad. I loved the way author gave word to all those moments a ‘Kaleidoscope of memory’ and the illustration of it was really beautiful.

The writing was poetic and young girl’s perspective to the story made it warm and heart touching that can take the reader back to memory lane of their grandparents. The bond between girl and granddad was sweet, I could feel girl’s strong attachment to him. The granddad in the story was Indian. Storyline was creative. I loved these lines below, in fact all the lines the depicted child’s imagination and love for her granddad.

“If all the world were deep space, I’d orbit my granddad like the moon and our laughs would be shooting stars.”

The book is very colorful with kid’s imagination. I loved the way child poured out her sadness through a memory in a book preserving them for forever. It was great idea to help kids to cope with the loss of their loved ones.

why 4 Stars-
I would like it even more if author had written more on child’s emotion after the loss and also parents’ involvement with their kid helping her to put her thoughts and emotions into that diary. It seemed like granddad thought about it beforehand kid just understood the purpose of that.

Overall, it was moving engaging and beautiful story book that kids would love to read.

[Plano Nacional de Leitura 2027]

A narrativa dá conta da especial relação afetiva, próxima e cúmplice, entre um avô e a sua neta, tendo como pano de fundo as atividades partilhadas por ambos nas diferentes estações do ano. Com a morte do avô, a narradora terá de confiar nas suas memórias para manter vivo e presente o avô na sua vida, recuperando todas as partilhas marcantes.
[Resumo da responsabilidade do Plano Nacional de Leitura 2027]

ISBN:
978-989-668-991-9
ASSUNTOS:
Avós -- [Contos infantis]; Morte -- [Contos infantis]
CDU:
087.5-053.5
821.111-34

Livro recomendado PNL2027 - 2021 1.º Sem. - Literatura - dos 6-8 anos - dos 9-11 anos - Inicial

[Etienne]

A tribute to all the grand-father and a story about love and grief! The illustration where not particularly my style but it was a good match for this story. A short story that will goes straight to your heart!

[Carla]

This book was especially moving to our family having lost my husband and my grandchildren's grandfather less than two years ago. This book depicts a young girl's love for her granddad and how they spend time together, her wishing it would never end. When he dies, she copes with the situation and uses a notebook he made for her to write and draw her memories while dealing with her grief. The book is written by poet and playwright Joe Coelho with wonderful illustrations by Allison Colpoys. This is a wonderful book that tackles a touchy topic: death. Death is never easy but this book would be a great help to any child. A wonderful addition to a family library where they will eventually have to deal with death and the grief that comes with it. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Andrea Hunter]

A beautifully written and illustrated story celebrating life and exploring grief.

[Abigail]

British poet and playwright Joseph Coelho and Australian illustrator Allison Colpoys join forces in this poignant picture-book about a young child's loving relationship with her grandfather, and her grief and sense of loss, when he dies. Frequently together, grandfather and granddaughter find something to do, no matter the season. From walking in the park to repairing and playing with a toy racetrack, they have plenty of fun together, and create many memories. When the grandfather is gone, the girl must gather those memories together, recalling her lost relative with love...

Originally published in the UK as If All The World Were... , and then republished here in the states as Grandpa's Stories, this is a book I sought out largely for the illustrations, having enjoyed Colpoys' artwork on two earlier titles from author Davina Bell ( Captain Starfish and All the Ways to be Smart ). I see that this team, Coelho and Colpoys, have a second title coming out later this year (2021), entitled My Beautiful Voice , which I hope to track down as well. In any case, I was certainly not disappointed in the visuals here, which are delightful, featuring a gorgeous color palette and beautifully stylized figures. I particularly liked the scenes in which the girl imagines that all the world is like this or that - dreams, deep space, stories - as the perspective there seems to draw back, showing the girl in her own imaginative world. The story here is poignant, and addresses a common childhood experience - the loss of a grandparent - with sensitivity and compassion. I wasn't thrilled with the grandfather's remark at the beginning of the book that the little girl is too old to hold hands - is one every too old for such a thing? - but it didn't ruin the story for me, as I interpreted it as him just being a little bit crusty. It's clear, from the rest of the tale, that he loves his granddaughter very much, and is devoted to her happiness. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for stories addressing the loss of a grandparent, as well as to fellow admirers of Allison Colpoys' work.

[Emma]

Beautiful, colourful illustrations accompany this moving story about the loving relationship between grandfather and granddaughter which is suitable and enjoyable for all ages. The bright colours symbolise the happiness felt when the girl is with her granddad. The book is good for teaching about inclusion as the characters are both Indian so with older children discussion of different cultures could be incorporated. When her granddad passes away, the girl is sad, but thinking about and remembering the time she spent with her granddad and all of his stories bring her happiness and she writes them down. The story could be used to discuss what makes you happy or families and bereavement in PSHE. Children could even write about stories what makes them happy in English, just like the girl in the story. Consideration of the individual children in the class should be taken as whilst it is a happy story of remembrance and family, if a child has recently lost a family member it may not be suitable. The theme in the early months is creating memories with her grandfather through non-materialistic activities which I think is important so that children can enjoy time with family and create those memories which the girl treasures so much.

[Bev]

Oh this utterly gorgeous picture book gave me all the feels, I just wanted to hug it (and it's adorable little girl) to my chest! I had tears in my eyes at the end, definitely one of my favourite picture books that I've read so far this year. Great for children dealing with bereavement yes but also just a beautiful story to share with little ones that you love. The relationship between the girl and her grandfather is so sweetly described and drawn that your heartstrings are tugged from the first few pages. Favourite quote ' If all the world were springtime, I would replant my grandad's birthdays so that he would never get old' , if only we could do this for our loved ones.

[Suz]

This book portrays the beautiful relationship between a grandad and his grandchild throughout the seasons and the way they explore the world together. My 6 year old son really enjoyed it although he didn’t pick up on the fact that the grandad passed away until I explained how this was portrayed.

[Georgina Nutt]

This poetic picture book is truly beautiful in every aspect. The book touches on a topic sadly, we all have to experience in our lives and for some children who may loose a grandparent whilst still young, this book gives a lovely idea about how to remember our loved ones.

Addressed by the illustrator ' To everyone who misses someone'. The illustrations within the book are vibrant and exceptionally joyous which helps to encompass the meaning of memories later on in the story. The story follows a young girls devoted love for her Grandad as she spends her days with him throughout his last year. When he passes away the young girl finds ' a kaleidoscope of memories' in her Granddads room, which she uses to help his memories live on with her forever, in the form of a notebook where she draws bright colours of their times together.

I think this idea is simple but incredibly important to relay to children who may have lost someone but who also maybe missing someone. The story also allows for conversations on the value and importance of memories. I think this book is a perfect addition to every classroom and would make a lovely read in small groups or on a 1:1 level. Where there is time for important conversations to be had and where teachers and support staff can spend time reliving happy memories with the children and listening to their stories.

[Bookishrealm]

Such a heart-breaking picture book. I lost both my great-grandmother and my grandmother in the past year and it was sort of difficult to read this book, but it reminded me that even in their passing I still have all of my memories with them. I think that this is such a powerful picture book and definitely one that can be used to assist children in learning more about death and how to cope with death.

[Merri Jordan]

Love love love this picture book. A beautiful story about love and loss accompanied by amazing illustrations. This book highlights that even though someone has died it does not mean that the memories have also gone. A book that I would definitely recommend to a child who has lost someone close to them.

[Ruth MacLaren]

I took this out of the library on a bit of a whim, as one tends to in libraries. I am aware it’s a children’s book, but the illustrations were so joyful and the poem so moving that I found myself staring at every page for ages. If all the world were this little book, it would be a much better place to live in.

[Skaitančios katės]

Nepakartojamos istorijos drauge su jaukiu poetišku Vainiaus Bako vertimu tik ir priverčia viltingai nusišypsoti.

[Sim ✨]

A beautiful and precious exploration of grief/loss that will tug on your heart strings. Also Allison Colpoys is the most incredible artist - does no wrong!

[KC]

I loved the illustrations but the story was a bit lacking-the message was there though.

[Iskra]

A girl shares unconditional love with her Indian grandad.

The little girl and granddad are inseparable, fond of each other, sharing moments that unfold during the seasons. They explore nature, play games and enjoy stories told by Grandpa. Grandad loves to give small handmade gifts to her granddaughter; a notebook encourages her creativity to “write and draw”.

The book is the first collaboration between Coelho and Colpoys (the second “My Beautiful Voice”), where vibrant colours celebrate the strong connection between an adult and child. Slightly darker palettes mark the last season in the story – winter that draws to an end this beloved relationship. The reader will be delicately moved from feeling the loss to moving forward when the girl recaps the world with her grandad, whom she internalised.

“If All the World Were...” will be remembered by adults and children for the deep feeling it gave and the remainder of the cherished people missing from our lives. It is not a read-aloud for any occasion but can be a resource for expressing feelings in Lower KS2. What would this be if the feelings had a colour, shape or picture? A possibility for an Art project.

Coelho and Colpoys lead the reader from shared love, loss and deeply rooted love beyond existence, rendered in buoyant colours and poetic style.

[Mathew]

This is the second collaboration of Coelho I have read in picturebook form and again he braves dealing with an important issue which many young children will encounter: the loss of a grandparent. Through the heading of the four seasons, Coelho’s poem shares with us a young girl’s celebration of the wonders of the world with her grandfather; hand-in-hand they explore the natural world, create, dream and share their passions and with each gift the young girl tells the reader, quite subtly, what moments she would retain of her grandfather.

When Winter arrives and we are greeted by that sudden loss, captured by Colpoys in a manner that mimics Burningham’s Granpa, we find the young girl instead chooses to retain and celebrate those memories by collecting them through her own words and pictures. This is a beautiful tale which would uplift any reader whether they have lost a grandparent or not but, what also struck me was how strongly the words and pictures encourage the reader to spend time with their grandparents now and build up a catalogue of memories which they can cherish.

The magic comes then in the freedom Colpoys has been given in capturing the moments woven by Coelho’s words. Full double-page spreads stroked with a rainbow of colours, vignettes which offer snapshots of the girl and grandfather together or her drawing and pondering go so well with Coelho’s words. Although Burningham’s Granpa remains seminal (read it and see the significance of the chair), there is no doubt that this book is more uplifting and celebratory. It gives time for grief but also asks the reader to remember those who have gone and find your own way of holding on to those memories.

[Laura]

Death is always hard for a child. Heck death is hard for adults, but it is espcially hard for children because they have nothing to compare it to. Sure, they may have lot a pet, but losing a grand parent is the first big death that most children experience.

This is such a sweet gentle book about all the memories the little girl has of her grandfather, throughout the year, and how much she loved him, and how sad she is that she can not have those walks with him.

She says, after his passing:

If all the world were memories
the past would be rooms I could visit
and in each room would be my granddad

And in the end, she writes all her memories down, so she can think of them again and again.

What a great way to help children grieve.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Faith]

If All the World Were... is a beautiful picture book focusing on the close relationship a granddaughter has with her grandfather. Through the change of seasons, we witness the special times they shared, as well as wishes the granddaughter has ("If all the world were springtime, I would replant my grandad's birthdays so that he would never get old").

As the year passes, there is a growing sense of nostalgia; we learn grandad's health is failing, and at the close of the book, he has passed away and the granddaughter is adjusting to life without her grandfather. However, through treasures she finds in his room and a final gift she has assurance that his moments with her were meaningful and among his favorites, and she memorializes him by writing down the stories of his life in India as well as the adventures they shared.

The illustrations are captivating and will draw in children and adults alike. The subject matter may seem sobering, but this can be a concrete yet gentle way to help prepare a child to the realities of an aging family member as well as offer ideas for adjusting to the absence of a loved one without forgetting them.