Janay Brown Wood “Grandma’s Tiny House”
Discussion and Book Signing
Underground Books (2814 35th Street)
(916) 737-3333
Kirkus:
“A fantastic feast unfolds as Grandma’s family gathers at her
very small home.
There are “TWO turkeys send[ing] scrumptious smells through the
air,” “FOUR pots of hot greens and ham hocks galore.” And that’s
just to start. Beyond the food, there are the bearers of all
these treats. “SEVEN cool uncles stroll up in a line, / with
EIGHT jugs of lemonade, ice-cold and fine.” This rhyming counting
book features a large family with brown skin, mostly of the same
shade with some slight variations in skin tone but lots of
different hairstyles, body types, and looks. The party doesn’t
seem to be celebrating any particular holiday, just an excuse for
family, neighbors, and friends (there are a few white faces among
the friends) to come together and enjoy a multigenerational
summer day. But there is a problem accommodating everyone, and
one of the “FIFTEEN hungry grandchildren,” a logical little girl
with a yellow headband holding back her Afro, has the solution.
She suggests using the backyard, and the party moves outside
without skipping a beat. There is a great sense of movement and
bustle, and Grandma’s cat and dog can be spotted in each
double-page spread.
Grandma’s lucky to have all these family members, and young
readers are even luckier to be invited to this wonderful family
gathering.”