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CM . . .
. Volume XIX Number 29. . . .March 29, 2013
excerpt:
The bibliotherapeutic text does a very good job of conveying the child�s emotional point of view. Josh is surprised to see his grandpa lying in a hospital bed (�Grandpa doesn�t like to rest�) and kicks the foot of the bed. Josh�s concerns are misconstrued: �But, when will we race go-karts?� Josh asked. �That�s not important now,� Mom said. But it was important. It was important to Grandpa George.� Josh feels conflicted (�He didn�t like visiting the hospital � He�s not the same�), and the adults in the story also struggle to deal with the difficult situation (�Mom spoke in an extra loud voice, as if Grandpa�s hearing had gone away with his words�). When Josh spends some time alone with �this new Grandpa George�, he realizes that, although the means of communication may be different, their loving relationship hasn�t changed. Through a crinkle of �his race car-blue eyes�, a smile and a wave, Josh understands his grandpa would like a really fast wheelchair ride down the hospital corridor. In appreciation, Grandpa George blows a huge bubblegum bubble, and Josh confirms �And he blew it just right.� Jill Quinn Babcock�s watercolour illustrations realistically capture the concerns of the family. Josh�s body language runs the gamut from expressions of worry and fear and trepidation to a joyful reunion. Recommended. Linda Ludke is a librarian in London, ON.
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Josh and his Grandpa George have a close relationship and enjoy many adventurous excursions together, including thrilling roller coaster rides and fast go-kart races. Grandpa George has a �go-get-'em� attitude (�I don�t want to look at the sea- I want to feel it�) and a talent for blowing great big bubblegum bubbles. When George suffers a sudden stroke, Josh struggles to understand the changes in his beloved grandfather.