Review: What Do You Call Your Grandpa?

Grandparents all around the world are known to their families by names specific to their language, culture, or family.

In What Do You Call Your Grandpa? those names related to language and culture are explained using lovely rhymes.

There are grandpas like Babu who loves looking to the stars in he sky in Africa, Belo who races boats down the brook with his grandson in Spain, and Kaku who loves to fish and cook his catch, in Australia's Northern Territory.

The rhymes themselves don't state where the various grandpas live, however there is a one-page reference list at the back which tells you what language and countries the names are associated with. From Celtic Wales and Maori New Zealand, to India, China, and other places.

The rhymes convey special relationships between grandfathers and their grandchildren. The experiences they share, and things that children notice and remember most. Memories that last a long time.

The pictures in What Do You Call Your Grandpa? depict the different environments, homes and public places that grandfathers spend their time. The places that stick with us when we remember them.

Ashleigh Barton's text (in her first picture book), and Martina Heiduczek's illustrations, create a sense of nostalgia and sentimentality which make What Do You Call Your Grandpa? appealing.

A beautiful gift book and one to share with all the family, from the youngest readers to grandparents and great-grandparents.

Look out for What Do You Call Your Grandma?, being released next year.

Title: What Do You Call Your Grandpa?
Author: Ashleigh Barton
Illustrator: Martina Heiduczek
Publisher: ABC Books, $ 17.99
Publication Date: July 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780733340864
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book