Description
A lyrical picture book memoir of one boy and his beloved grandmother. From award-winning author Lester Laminack.
Every Saturday, a young boy rides his bicycle up and down country roads, past farms and a filling station, until he reaches his beloved Mammaw’s house. She is waiting for him. There, the young boy helps her. She picks tomatoes and he pushes the lawnmower through the dew-wet grass. But the best part of the day is helping his Mammaw make teacakes from scratch and eating the hot, sweet cakes fresh from the oven.
Lester Laminack’s richly detailed prose perfectly portrays the special relationship of a young boy and his grandmother. Award-winning illustrator Chris Soentpiet’s detailed watercolor images beautifully capture the era.
Reviews
“The impeccably rendered paintings illustrate with astonishing historical accuracy…this nostalgic look back offers up the childhood many of us wish we’d had.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Drawing on his childhood in Heflin, AL, the author splendidly recreates these nostalgic scenes, carefully bringing the memories to life by describing the sunny kitchen, the crunch of gravel under bicycle wheels, and the sweet aroma of the cakes. The brilliant watercolor paintings glow with light and idyllically capture the world of yesteryear.” ―School Library Journal
“Illustrator Soentpiet notes that his model is Norman Rockwell, and this picture book, set in rural Alabama in 1964, certainly evokes Rockwell’s idyllic visions of family togetherness… the pictures are gorgeous, and the bond between child and grandparent is timeless.” ―Booklist
Awards
SEBA Book Award (Nominee, Children’s Category) ―Southeastern Booksellers’ Association, 2005
Best Books of the Year Awards (Nominee) ―Child Magazine, 2004
Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Primary) ―Kansas National Education Association, 2005
Georgia Children’s Picture Storybook Award (Nominee) ―University of Georgia, 2005-2006
South Carolina Picture Book Award (Nominee) ―South Carolina Association of School Librarians, 2006-2007
Volunteer State Book Awards (master list, K-3) ―Tennessee Association of School Librarians, 2006-2007
Children’s Book Sense Picks ―Book Sense, 2004
Read Alouds too Good to Miss (Primary) ―AIME, 2004
Society of Illustrators Annual Exhibition, 2005
More Details
AR Level: 4.3
F&P: GRL P, Gr 3, Genre RF
Lexile: AD840L
Themes: Baking, Grandparents, Memories
BISAC 1: JUV013030 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Multigenerational
BISAC 2: JUV005000 JUVENILE FICTION / Boys & Men
BISAC 3: JUV000000 JUVENILE FICTION / General
