My Grammie’s House

A little girl gives a tender guided tour of her grandmother’s house to prospective buyers in this charming and moving picture book. The child walks a young couple through a place near and dear to her heart, pointing out all the features and memories that make this house so special. In poised first-person narration that would give real estate agents a run for their money, the protagonist describes unique selling points, including the “springiest screen door in town”, a TV room “with its very own sunbeam,” and a shady closet that “makes a great clubhouse.”

The child’s personal recollections are joyful and poignant. Dragging a kitchen chair to a sunny spot in the living room, she reenacts how she would join her Grammie in watching an exercise show, using soup cans as weights. The sight of her Grammie’s sweater in the closet leads her to remark, “You’re probably going to want to leave that right there.” There’s no mention of why Grammie isn’t in her home, leaving room for reader’s own interpretations.

Skye Ali’s winsome illustrations are full of life and light. Cheerful scenes show the child exuberantly racing through the familiar rooms that are now empty. Pink line drawings imaginatively represent Grammie’s belongings in the spots where they used to be, like a bowl of fruit on the counter, picture frames on the walls, and potted plants on the windowsill.

My Grammie’s House is a warm invitation to revisit and share cherished memories as well as an affecting inspection into what makes a house a home.