Grandpa for Sale! by Dotti Enderle
July 26, 2008 by Writing for Children
Filed under Book Reviews
Today is the final day of Children’s Book Review Week here at the National Writing for Children Center.
Here is our final review of the week.
Listen to Book Bites for Kids on Monday, July 28th, at 2:00 central time, when Dotti Enderle will be the guest author. She will talk about her newest book, Man in the Moon.
Title: Grandpa for Sale!
Author: Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum
Illustrator: T. Kyle Gentry
Hardcover: 32 full color pages
Ages: 4-8
Publisher: Flashlight Press
ISBN-13 9780972922586
ISBN-10 097292258X
Publication: April 2007
Here’s a charming picture book destined to become a favorite of children of all ages everywhere!
Young Lizzie is minding the family antique store, carefully dusting all the priceless antiques while her grandpa snoozes on a Louis XVI settee.
For good measure, Lizzie even dusts Grandpa’s bald head as he naps.
The bell over the door tinkles as a woman named Mrs. Bradley Larchmont the Third (no less) breezes in wearing a pink stole and suit, carrying a matching miniature poodle in her arms.
Mrs. Larchmont is on a buying spree, loading Lizzie down with all of her purchases, when she suddenly spies something she definitely must have – Grandpa!
When Lizzie tells Mrs. Larchmont that Grandpa is not for sale, Mrs. Larchmont pooh-poohs that idea, saying, “Nonsense, my dear. Everyone has a price.”
And the price Mrs. Larchmont is willing to pay for Grandpa keeps getting higher and higher.
Readers of all ages will identify with Lizzie as she carefully considers what she could do with all the money each time Mrs. Larchmont ups the price she’s willing to pay for Grandpa.
Rich, vibrant illustrations by T. Kyle Gentry add to the fun revealing what Lizzie envisions doing if she accepts any of Mrs. Larchmont’s offers.
This delightful picture book by authors Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum does such a great job of what picture books are designed to do – engage young readers (and listeners) in an interesting story told through a mix of text and pictures, written with just enough predictability to gently pull them along to a surprising but satisfying conclusion.
There’s even a surprise added bonus on the back cover of the book. But I won’t give that away here.
This book is another sure winner from Flashlight Press.
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Reviewed by Suzanne Lieurance
