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It's Good to Have a Grandpa

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There's no one like a grandpa!

Children and grandfathers love playing together, eating together―just being together. Every time is a special time, for both. This book captures the special moments without sentimentality, but with warmth and love.

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2019

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About the author

Maryann Macdonald

49 books43 followers

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5 stars
18 (30%)
4 stars
18 (30%)
3 stars
21 (35%)
2 stars
3 (5%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
134 reviews
November 28, 2020
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

This lovely book touched me in so many different ways ....

First - it's so beautifully put together .. the pictures, the colors, the cover, the quality of the paper, - it's the kind of book that makes me happy just to look at it and hold it. I can imagine a child giving it a hug and carrying it around.

Next - the story itself - a book about the experiences and love between a child and a grandpa. Time shared, family history learned, opportunities to explore life together, a very special love of shared time - time between a child and a special grown up.

While the experiences of every child with their grandpa might not be the same -to me this book provides opportunities to talk about the "good" times and wonderful experience of "Have"(ing) a "Grandpa". An opportunity to appreciate and talk about the special that is happening now between a child and their grandpa.

For me as an older adult --- it was a very special opportunity to remember my grandpa. To think about the time we had together - times we shared, opportunities I had to learn from him. Memories that have stayed with me for my lifetime - but until this lovely children's book I hadn't through about.

When I read the inside of the book where the author says
"In memory of George, a loving grandpa"
and the illustrator said:
"For Russel, Avery, Cruz, Eliseo, Omer, Ruben and all you awesome grandpas out there"

Not only do I know this book was written and illustrated with love but I also know that for those who are grandparents - for those aren't grandparents - but have grandparent like relationship with the children in their lives .. the special memories and experiences they share together will last a lifetime

Profile Image for Darleen Wohlfeil.
Author 2 books2 followers
September 11, 2019
Family is the foundation of social structure. The stronger the family and its close extensions, the stronger our society. Grandparents hold a magical, as well as an honored roll in this important unit. The illustrations by Priscilla Burris in these two wonderful new books by Maryann Macdonald, reveal the life and heart of these valued relationships. Each and every
example captures the essence of that magical exchange, that emotional infusion between grandparents and grandchildren that often goes beyond verbal explanation. Bravo to this winning team that has stirred memories of, and hope for a great legacy!
230 reviews5 followers
August 3, 2021
Maryann Macdonald and Priscilla Burris have created one of the most joyful books about the love between a grandfather and grandchild that I have ever seen. Bravo!

Told from the child's point of view, we learn all that things that make grandpas special: They let you jump in the leaves they've just raked without worrying that they'll have to rake all over again. They let you win at cards and tic-tac-toe. They don't get tired of playing. They hlep you with your homework and give you the change from their pockets. And many more things! Text and pictures prove that, as the narrator says, "You can be happy almost anywhere with a grandpa." This book itself is, indeed, a very happy place. Children will want to revisit this book time and time again. So will a grandpa.

So, if you know a grandpa, give him this book. (Warning: it might make a grandma jealous.)
2 reviews
September 17, 2019
Every child deserves a Grandpa like the ones in this delightful book. Grandpas enjoy shared activities like little ones getting a horsey-back ride from Grandpa or Grandpa letting them jump into a pile of leaves. It doesn’t take a lot of money nor a trip away from home to show how little ones can have the time of their lives just be spending quality play time with their Grandpa. This Early Reader Level 1 book is a treasure for little ones to enjoy and keep to share with their own little ones one day. It is the perfect companion to ‘It’s Good to Have a Grandma’ also by Ms. McDonald.
Profile Image for Sheri.
2,730 reviews10 followers
September 19, 2019
An endearing book about things grandpas do with kids and how they enjoy spending time with theirs. All have different grandpas and interests but when you have one there is time taken with you to do things together. These grandpa stories are all kind, interesting, spending time with grandfather events. Leaves you with one statement that I think of when I think of my grandfathers.
1,149 reviews32 followers
December 9, 2019
This book will soon become the favorite book of grandchildren everywhere. I could not quit smiling as I turned each page. Told in simple words with darling illustrations grandpas take center stage. (Psst…Grandmas, don’t feel left out. There is also a “It’s Good a Have a Grandma” which is just as darling.)

Here is my favorite page: “Then Grandpa tells me what happened to him a long time ago, when he was a surfer or a soldier or a hippie. Some of Grandpa’s stories are even true.” Come on…tell me you didn’t chuckle when you read that.

I love the diversity in the families portrayed so all children can relate.

I received this delightful book from GoodReads but the opinion expressed here is certainly my own.
Profile Image for Amy.
316 reviews7 followers
December 26, 2019
We had a little difficulty getting into the first two or so pages of the book. We kept on reading and started to enjoy the book more of how Grandpa's come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors and all Grandpa's enjoy doing different things with their grandchildren. We further discussed how lucky this one is to have two different Grandpa's that choose to do fun and different things with them. Thanks for allowing us to review this cute book.
Profile Image for Diane.
7,305 reviews
December 13, 2020
“You can be happy almost anywhere with a grandpa.”

Not all grandpas are the same, but they have some things in common: they like to have fun, they play games with you, they like to be silly and they “don’t mind if you comb their hair to look like a woodpecker.” They sometimes forget things, but they tell stories, take you places and teach you things.

A sweet homage to the joys of intergenerational relationships.

Profile Image for Shirley.
472 reviews46 followers
December 26, 2019
The story and illustrations are terrific! I plan to have my husband read this to the grandkids on their next visit. But first, I need to order It's Good to Have a Grandma by Maryann Macdonald so that the grandkids and I can also share some fun and quality time together. I'm sure they'll be asking to take these entertaining books home.











1,695 reviews2 followers
December 3, 2019
In my opinion It's Good to Have a Grandpa suffers from the same problem as It's Good to Have a Grandma in that it's very sweet but too specific. Not all grandpa's are alike with the exception of loving our grands. . . Grandparents love in different ways and traditions, we show our love in different ways, and we have different abilities and strengths as well. I liked It's Good to Have a Grandpa well enough, but I won't be buying for my precious grands. I think the age group for which it's intended may have difficulty understanding why their grandpa is not like the ones in the book.

3.5 stars
Profile Image for Judy Watters.
Author 100 books9 followers
September 1, 2021
What a delightful book! I smiled all the way through. The cover is enticing and the title definitely accurately portrays the story inside. I love the way a variety of grandpas is used, but they all focus on loving the grandchild. It brought back memories of my grandpa and also the way my husband loves on our grandchild. Any child could relate to the fun text backed up with delightful and well done illustrations.
Profile Image for Rachel Blackburn.
46 reviews10 followers
December 11, 2019
Very cute, my daughter enjoyed it. We ironically won just a few days after her grandpa passed away, so it made her a little sad but she related her time with him to what the grandpas and grandchildren did in the book.
Profile Image for Kris Dersch.
2,371 reviews25 followers
January 3, 2020
My kids have a fairly elderly grandpa with limited mobility, so while there was a range of what grandpas do in this book I feel like it could have been a little wider and a little more inclusive. I do like that distance grandpas were featured.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews