Review: Grandma and Grandpa’s Tales Books 1-3 by Cheryl Carpinello

Grandma and Grandpa’s Tales Books 1-3 encourage early readers with fun stories incorporating difference aspects of nature. Book 1, Wild Creatures In My Neighborhood and What if I Went to the Circus, explores the wildlife around neighborhoods and introduces decision-making. Book 2, Singers of Songs and The Not Too Stubborn Humpback, explores a common, but not so common insect, and lets readers see that being stubborn isn’t always good. Book 3, Vampires in the Backyard and A Fish Tale, introduces readers to an extended metaphor and lets them decide if the fish story is real. All the books have bright, simple images to catch and keep the attention of a young reader. Where relevant, some stories have activities to help youngsters remember what they have read about or learned, or else to draw various concepts they have discovered. Parents and educators will welcome the variety of stories and the possibilities of discussions with the young audience about social issues, concepts, and choices. Very highly recommended.

Grandma’s Tales, Book 1: Wild Creatures in my Neighborhood and What If I Went to the Circus? starts off with the young boy discovering signs of wildlife in the garden – a raccoon, a rabbit, a prairie dog, a bear and more. His mom explains to him how these wild animals have appeared in the neighborhood even though they live in a city. Every time he guesses what the animal is from its tracks or the sounds it makes, his mom corrects him. Bright images show the reader what the boy thinks the creature is…and then we see what it really is! The young boy and young readers will learn that wild creatures are everywhere. In What if I Went to the Circus?, young Jackson mulls over the animals he could bring home from the circus to play with him. Sadly, they are all too big and Jackson enumerates the bad things that could happen… so not a good idea. The images of the animals are cleverly interspersed with the text so the young reader can sound out the name of the animal and what might happen to the various objects in Jackson’s home.

Grandma’s Tales, Book 2: Singers of Songs and The Not Too Stubborn Humpback starts with an introduction to nature’s most melodious singer and musician, the garden cricket! The delightful images are interspersed with facts about crickets that adults will enjoy learning as well. Young readers also have some interactive activities to help them remember what they have learned about crickets. The author gives readers the not so good facts about crickets (which Mom will find useful), so they are best left in the garden to make music. The second story introduces youngsters to a stubborn little humpback whale called Nemo. Nemo thinks he knows it all and he is stubborn in his ways. Alas, that kind of attitude does not bode well for Nemo as he finds out, to his fright. A salutary lesson is learned! Young readers are encouraged to draw various scenes they read about in this story.

Grandpa’s Tales, Book 3: Vampires in the Backyard and A Fish Tale starts off with fun and action, brightly coloured images of a boy and a girl playing… interspersed with (Shock! Horror!) a sign warning young readers of danger lurking! What can it be? The action continues with a delicious mouth-watering picnic, then time for a frolic in the pool… but the danger signs loom ever closer… And with nightfall and time for a game of hide and seek, we discover that there are Vampires in the Backyard! Bloodsuckers too! Who or what exactly are these vampires? You will have to read the book to find out! Young readers will be flipping the pages to get to the ghastly truth about the vampires. You have been warned. Next comes A Fish Tale as George makes his way to the pond with everything he needs to catch the biggest fish he can find. It’s an adventure and it’s a perfect day for fishing… but is it?

About the Author

Cheryl Carpinello taught high school English for 25 years. During that time, she worked with numerous students who didn’t like to read for a variety of reasons. However, she discovered that even the most reluctant readers became engaged in the classroom and in reading when she introduced units on King Arthur and the works of ancient world writers. Upon retiring, she set out to write fast-paced, action-filled stories in these setting to encourage young readers to read more. Her success with readers aged 8-16 led her to reach out to the youngest of readers and those readers just starting out. Revising stories she had written for her own children, she created Grandma/Grandpa’s Tales for ages 4-7.  Her four grandchildren's conversations created the stories in Book 3 of this series. Visit her on Twitter and Facebook.