CM Magazine: Kids and Grandparents: An Activity Book.

________________ CM . . . . Volume VII Number 2 . . . . September 22, 2000

Kids and Grandparents: An Activity Book.

Ann Love and Jane Drake. Illustrated by Heather Collins.
Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 1999.
160 pp., pbk. & cl., $14.95 (pbk.), $21.95 (cl.).
ISBN 1-55074-492-5 (pbk.), ISBN 1-55074-784-3 (cl.).

Subject Headings:
Amusements-Juvenile literature.
Grandparent and child-Juvenile literature.

Grades 1 and up / Ages 6 and up.

Review by Val Nielsen.

***.5 /4

In today's society, the joys and satisfactions of grandparenting are well recognized. There are countless novels for children and young adults in which a grandparent (or two) is portrayed as the main source of support and wisdom for the young protagonist. Now that baby boomers are heading into that stage of life, they appear to be on the lookout for resources which will help them to get the most out of their new role. Kids and Grandparents: An Activity Book, the latest book co-authored by Ann Love and Jane Drake, is, according to its publishers, "A book for cool grandparents and hip kids." It is truly, as they go on to point out, "... brimming with crafts, games, recipes and projects." The activities are organized into four headings: "Making Memories," "Fun and Games," "Crafts" and "Family Food." Playing marbles or jacks, doing card tricks, making pot-pourri, growing giant pumpkins, preparing an old-fashioned picnic - right up to serving grandparents breakfast in bed - are among the ideas for having fun that are presented clearly and simply in Kids and Grandparents. Each activity lists what materials will be needed and outlines the steps to be taken to complete the project. Heather Collins, illustrator of the authors' earlier books, The Kids Cottage Book (1993), The Kids Campfire Book (1996) and The Kids Cottage Games Book (1998), does a fine job in bringing to life an assortment of grandparents and grandkids with carefully detailed two-coloured drawings.
There are over 90 activities to browse among and choose from, an array which should please grandparents and grandchildren of every interest and age level. With its abundance of appealing pictures, even children not yet fluent in reading will enjoy browsing through the book looking for an activity to do with Grandpa or Grandma. A well-organized and illustrated index provides adults with an excellent opportunity to show children how to use such a tool. At $14.95, the paperback version of Kids and Grandparents is a bargain and should prove a great resource for grandparents who want to stay connected to their grandkids whether they live across the street or across the world.

Recommended.

Valerie Nielsen is a retired teacher-librarian living in Winnipeg where she's making good use of the contents of Kids and Grandparents.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - September 22, 2000.