Grandpa and Jake - Hardcover

Fortenberry, Julie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0593404351 ISBN 13: 9780593404355

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers, 2022

Synopsis

In this heartwarming intergenerational story, Grandpa Bear introduces his grandson Jake to a very special place—the library!

"Let's turn the TV off," says Grandpa to Jake. "There's some place I'd like to show you... a place my Grandpa took me when I was your age." As the two of them walk through the busy town, Grandpa shares the favorite places he and his own grandpa went together . . . and Little Jake keeps guessing where they are going. The movies? The baseball park? The beach? "Not this time," says Grandpa, and has Jake close his eyes before going into . . . the library!

About this title

About the Author

Julie Fortenberry is part of a family of artists. Her husband is an abstract painter. Her son is also an artist and her daughter is a choreographer and dancer. Born in Southern California, Julie moved to New York City to attend Hunter College, where she received an MFA in painting. Her abstract artwork has been exhibited in solo and group shows in galleries including White Columns and the Whitney Museum of American Art. For more about Julie and her books, visit juliefortenberry.com

Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—In this picture book that celebrates libraries and sharing stories, a grandpa and grandson brown bear troop across a town on an outing crowded with animals en route to a surprise destination. Grandpa wants to get Jake out of the house and away from the TV. As they walk through an orchard, past a movie theater, and across a park toward Jake's mystery treat, he guesses—are they going to the movies? To the beach? On a boat? Grandpa tells Jake that they will see all of these things where they are going, but that they will see them inside. Jake's excursion turns out to be his first ever trip to the library, where he spends a special afternoon bonding with his grandfather and journeying through stories to all of the places he daydreamed about on the way. At the end of the visit, Grandpa reminds Jake that as long as they take good care of their library books they can borrow them, and the younger bear can't believe his good fortune. Simple exposition and the suspense of the journey carry the tale along, while Fortenberry's delicately sketched and colored illustrations depict a festive community of bears, elephants, giraffes, and many more animals living harmoniously and going about their work and play. Each page is overflowing with cheerful details, giving the impression that there are many stories hidden within this one. VERDICT What educator doesn't like to see the world of books celebrated and pass that on? This is heartily recommended for young reader collections.—Lauren Younger

Edition details

• Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593404351
• ISBN 13: 9780593404355
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Fortenberry Julie
• Number of pages: 40