Review: The Frank Show

Frank is just a regular grandad. He does regular grandad stuff and likes regular grandad things. So when Mum & Dad are too busy to help with a school project, grandad is the only one left for our little narrator to talk about, for a whole minute, at school. But Frank is just a grandad. What is there to talk about?

All the kids in the class are talking about someone cool. Tom′s Uncle Marlon plays drums in a band and Elaine′s sister has her own company car. But there′s nothing cool about grandad Frank ... or is there?


At the crux of it, this book is about something that is very close to my heart and that is, quite simply, talking to our elderly generation. I have lost all my grandparents now and to this day, I wish I had a better memory to remember the tiny nuances of their fabulously cheeky stories.

This book encourages kids to listen to their grandparents. To ask them their stories. To ask, who were they before they were grandparents? The older generation have so many amazing stories to share, they just need you to listen.

It's a funny story. It's a heart-warming story. It's a story about seeing your grandparents in another light.  The illustrations are outstanding, each page is a new treat for the eyes with quite subtle colours used for maximum, stunning, effect.

I am completely captivated. When I have kids I want my parents, and my partners parents, to read this book to them so they can have their own special memories together.


Title: The Frank Show
Author: David Mackintosh
Publisher: HarperCollins, $24.99RRP
Publication Date: 1st August 2012
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780007364008
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book