Three plus
Fashion moves fast in children's publishing – and while last year grandmothers topped the bill in picture books, this season it is grandfathers who take centre stage. ‘Every grandad's different,’ is the message in Grandads are the Greatest (Bloomsbury, £7.99) by Ben Faulks, which combines simple rhyming text with engaging illustrations by Nia Tudor.
‘Grandads are the GREATEST, / no two are quite the same. / And each one's had ADVENTURES / you and I can barely by Harry Woodgate (Andersen, £12.99) which continues the adventures of Milly and her grandfather, who has been left shattered by the death of his male partner. When Milly discovers a gay pride flag in Grandad's attic, she has an idea to help him celebrate again. (‘”What's Pride?” I ask. “Pride is like a giant party.”’) And by Anna Wilson (Nosy Crow, £12.99) is another deceptively multi-layered story, recounting a year in nature, as observed by a grandfather walking with his grandchild. (‘”The river is full of hidden things,” Grandpa said. “What can you see?”’) The river is also the setting for by Pam Ayres (Macmillan, £12.99), in which an otter called Oliver finds his life turned upside down by love. (‘I am very beautiful, with whiskers round my snout, / And I can close my ears and nose to keep the water out.’) And for some merry rhyming mayhem, by Penny Phillips (Old Street, £6.99) tells the enchanting story of a white cat who recruits an A to Z of animals to search for her missing friend Terry. (‘”Oh, please,” twitched a squirrel named Sue, / “Won't someone decide what to do?”’)
