How to Babysit a Grandma by Jean Reagan

Hachette, 2014. ISBN: 9781444918113.
Highly recommended for ages 4 and up. This is a manual on how to babysit a grandma, especially if you are sleeping over at her house. Written in black type face are the generic 'rules' on what to consider when you are babysitting your grandma and in purple font are the more specific suggestions on what to do or say to her to keep her happy and occupied. Naturally, each activity is one which would be immensely enjoyed by the child and in which grandmas would be willing to participate too. Amongst the alternatives are a trip to the park, playing dress ups, cooking dinner (with many added 'sprinkles'), reading books and telling stories.
A whimsical and delightful story which would be enjoyed by children and adults alike as they share precious time together, this book contains appealing, brightly coloured cartoon style illustrations and end papers covered in pictures which are depict photos of grandma, the child and the dog sharing activities together. This could prove to be a useful text when beginning units on families and grandparents as well as 'then and now' as outlined in the junior primary history curriculum. The girl is keen to hear stories about her mother when she was a child. Both healthy and unhealthy foods are mentioned, as is creating lists of indoor and outdoor activities, two themes which could be used in health lessons. The book also contains some direct speech so could be used in English lessons when teaching punctuation. As a total rarity, a page related to sign language is included and could be incorporated in lessons on different forms of communication.
Jo Schenkel