Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a story about being true to oneself, a girl is less than thrilled that her grandmother is less than ordinary. For example, everywhere Granny goes, she brings an entourage of cats, frogs, and bats; she can make things disappear; and she rides a broom. In an attempt to make her grandmother more "normalish," the girl gives her a makeover (involving a hair bun, a smart plaid suit, and a pink bunny), but Granny's spirits sink. Berger creates a spunky, retro atmosphere of burbling cauldrons and swirling pinks in his matte art as the girl learns to appreciate her grandmother's witchy eccentricities in this simple story. Ages 3-up. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-The young narrator's grandmother has an uncanny ability to make objects disappear, and her turbo-jet broom serves as her favorite mode of transportation. Tired of taking part in her unusual excursions, the child gives her granny a makeover and encourages her to develop ordinary habits to bring normalcy to her life. Grandma, however, is simply not meant to live a traditional lifestyle, and her granddaughter eventually learns to celebrate her uniqueness in a sweetly realized ending. The narrative strongly hints at her grandmother's unusual occupation while lively, rhyming text maintains energetic pacing through repetition. "My granny's kind of different. She cooks this icky soup./I swear she uses slime and sludge and bits of froggy-poop!" There's nothing spooky in the British charm found in phrases and visual design. Hilarious details add chuckles along this pair's journey: the grandmother carries a cauldron purse; takes her granddaughter to see "Scary Poppins"; and brings along a menagerie of cats, bats, and frogs for some fun in the sun. Cartoon illustrations, emphasized in shades of deep purple and blue, remain cheerfully witchy. This is a lovely, imaginative romp, with just a pinch of playful mischief thrown in.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
As they say, be careful what you wish for No one wants a relative to stand out too much, especially for the wrong reasons. A young girl hopes her beloved grandmother--who just happens to be a witch--would learn to be more conventional. Corderoy sets a conversational pace to help readers sympathize with the main character's plight: "My granny's kind of different" What follows are spreads dominated by pinks and purples that capture the peculiar occurrences that whirl around Granny wherever she goes. The rhyming text describes Granny cooking "icky soup" full of "slime and sludge and bits of froggy-poop" and driving a "crazy car" with "no roof or seats or wheelsmost bizarre!" But often the text only hints at a situation gone awry, and it is Berger's hilarious digital illustrations that will have readers giggling here and squealing there. At one point the girl convinces Granny to give being "normalish" a try. The makeover initially seems a success, "but something wasn't right. She seemed like someone else's granny, strolling home that night." When Granny ends up in bed bored and sad, the girl soon realizes that grandmother's witchy ways should be celebrated instead of changed. Nestled among the burping bats and mischievous frogs, a lesson on appreciating differences is charmingly presented. Let this tale work its magic throughout the year. (Picture book. 3-6) ]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
