I Call My Grandma Nana by Ashley Wolff
Children’s picture book
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Tricycle Press (August 11, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-1582462516
Back-of-the-book blurb: Do you sew with your Abuelita, look at the stars with your MeMaw, or ride waves at the beach with your Bubbe? No matter what name you call your grandma, one thing is for sure: it’s always fun to spend time with the one you love–who loves you right back.
She is Too Fond of Books’ review: Today would have been my Nana’s 97th birthday, so it seems the perfect day to review this picture book. In our family, Nana and Papa are the grandparents on the maternal side, while Grammy and Grampy are the titles for paternal grandparents. J’s family uses the more traditional Grandma and Grandpa, and we have other friends with Mormor, Nonny Sue, Gammy, Gram, and GiGi in their families.
Ashley Wolff considers these and dozens of other names we use for Grandmother, as the children in this picture book classroom share a little about their own grandmothers:
“I spent a week with Oma
while Mommy was away.
We ate pepperoni pizza
for our breakfast everyday!”
Some of the rhymes felt stilted to me, but my kids were much more forgiving of the cadence I found a bit awkward:
“My Bubbe says next summer,
she hopes that I will teach
her how to ride a boogie board
when we’re at the beach.”
Wolff’s collage illustrations show multicultural families enjoying a variety of activities together. These grandmas are generally fun and active, but many lifestyles are represented; one student has a Next-Door-Nana because her Naani lives far away.
The front endpapers have a spot to put a picture of the reader’s grandmother, with the heading “I call my grandma (blank).” The back endpapers list thirty foreign-language names for Grandma, plus another thirty or so non-traditional names, including Grandmasaurus, Madam, and Wipper!
I Call My Grandma Nana is an enjoyable picture book that reinforces the concept of “a Grandma by any other name would be as sweet” (apologies to Shakespeare!). If the young reader’s name for Grandma appears in the book, all the better; my younger kids were really excited that Nana made the cover.
About the author: Ashley Wolff has written or illustrated over fifty books, including one of our favorites, the classic Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten. I Call My Grandpa Papa, a companion to I Call My Grandma Nana, is also available. You can learn more about Ashley Wolff at her website.
FTC disclosure: review copy provided by the publisher.
I agree with you about that one rather stilted rhyme, and bubbe wanting to know how to ride a boogie board? hmmmmm.
And happy birthday to the memory of your Nana, who lives on in your hearts and even in ours because of her glop (the crumble recipe, maybe not glop but something like that)!
I like the concept of this, but I wonder how many times kids would really read this. Perhaps a good one to check out of the library.
This is a really cute idea for a book, and the illustrations look great! I used to call my Grandma Nana too, so I was also pleased to see the title. Great review!
rhapsody – I’m so impressed that you remember Nana’s “apple slop” recipe!
Beth F – I often judge whether a book is a ‘keeper’ or a ‘library borrow’ based on how much I’ll enjoy reading it again and again and again …
zibilee – I wonder if part of the appeal for me is that Nana made the title? I like how Wolff incorporates so many names for Grandmother …
You have me ordering these books right now. My husband and I are also Nana and Papa and, actually, I think I’m getting the books for us. Great review, as always.
I’m late to the party but since we just found out we’re to be grandparents in 2011 T and I have been tossing around a few possibilities. My best friend’s kids call her mom Mimi and her dad Poppy. I’m going to be polling a lot of friends (and possibly strangers) before July!
Now I’ll see if my library system has this book. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Dawn.
Margot – Nana and Papa have been the tradition in our family (on the mother’s side) for at least 5 generations. I’m not sure what they were back in Sweden
Mary – well, congratulations! There are a lot of possibilities for grandparent names; some unique to the family. I’m sure you’ll find a perfect fit with whatever you choose