President Camila Alire received the following message detailing a new children's book about grandparents:

Dear Camila,
Thank you for making Reading is Grand! part of your Family Literacy Focus Inititative and recognizing the importance of the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren. That is why I wanted to be sure you’re aware of a new children’s book specifically about grand-families: Sometimes It’s Grandmas and Grandpas by Gayle Byrne (2009, Abbeville Press).

 Sometimes It’s Grandmas and Grandpas is a touching picture book centered on a little girl being raised by her grandparents. Written by Gayle Byrne, a children’s librarian who is raising her granddaughter, this loving book shows that it’s not always Mommies or Daddies that care for children, and that’s okay!

 Sometimes It’s Grandmas and Grandpas and Reading is Grand! share the goal of celebrating these special grand-families, and Abbeville Press would love to work with you to promote this cause. Please let me know if we can collaborate or help with Reading is Grand! in any way. I’d love to send you a review copy of the book—just let me know to what address I should send a copy. 

 Praise for Sometimes It’s Grandmas and Grandpas:

"This is a wonderful story, with the right tone and message. It leaves one with a sense of calm, warmth and security, which is something many grandchildren desire." —Deborah M. Whitley, Director, National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

"With beautiful illustrations and simple, yet warm and sincere, text... this book is a welcome addition to children's literature addressing diversity in family structure..." —ACEI Journal (Association for Childhood Education International)

"Strikes a warm, happy note..." —Booklist

"A great way to introduce children to other family structures." —New Haven Register

"A delightful children's book... warm and comforting." —Together (a Generations United magazine)

"[This] book will likely fill a gap in many collections." —School Library Journal
Briana Green
Marketing Manager & Web Editor
Tel. 212.366.5585 x25

 Abbeville Press
137 Varick Street
New York, NY 10013
www.abbeville.com

Please write back if you plan to use this book for Reading is Grand! programming at your library.
 
The first Reading is Grand!  program was held at the Whitney Young Branch of the Chicago Public Library.  Ms. Smalls regaled the audience by sharing stories about her Nana and Pop Pop, the inspiration behind her critically acclaimed books My Nana and Me  and  My Pop Pop and Me.   Ms. Smalls invited participants to share stories about their grandparents, which later became part of the traveling journals they created.  Many thanks to the staff of the Whitney Young Branch for hosting this program