lauriehnatiuk's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautiful story Heather T. Smith and Brooke Kerrigan have created celebrating the bonds of family and love. Lou spends Saturdays with grandparents Granddad and Pops. They have routines of what they do together - for example going to the library where Granddad likes to read books on how things work, while Pops likes to listen to music. Lou learns different things from each grandparent celebrating how we don't have to like and do the same things. When Pops has an unexpected fall and now has to use a wheelchair, he is having trouble adjusting to his new life and so Lou and granddad hatch a plan to help Pops which of course is a success.
There are many things to like about this book. An interracial elderly gay grandparents just being part of the story not THE story providing a window and mirror to readers. Lou who is never identified as female/male allowing readers to make the choice. STEAM and Rube Goldberg activities supporting and providing ideas for makerspaces. Modelling how we can love one another without having to have the same interests, and how families come together to help one another. This is a book that focuses on family values and supporting and loving one another. A must have for classrooms and libraries.
There are many things to like about this book. An interracial elderly gay grandparents just being part of the story not THE story providing a window and mirror to readers. Lou who is never identified as female/male allowing readers to make the choice. STEAM and Rube Goldberg activities supporting and providing ideas for makerspaces. Modelling how we can love one another without having to have the same interests, and how families come together to help one another. This is a book that focuses on family values and supporting and loving one another. A must have for classrooms and libraries.
heisereads's review against another edition
5.0
This picture book is practically perfect in every way. ❤️
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
I love that this picture book is about the child’s two grandparents, but not about them as a gay couple, but about them as they relate to their grandchild.
This is a sweet story of a grandchild, Lou and their grandfathers, and the special time that they have together. (It is not clear in the story, what gender Lou is, and it does not really matter to the story).
When Pops has a fall, Lou and Grampa have to come up with a way to cheer him up.
Good for any child that has a spcecial time with their grandparents.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This is a sweet story of a grandchild, Lou and their grandfathers, and the special time that they have together. (It is not clear in the story, what gender Lou is, and it does not really matter to the story).
When Pops has a fall, Lou and Grampa have to come up with a way to cheer him up.
Good for any child that has a spcecial time with their grandparents.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
emeelee's review against another edition
4.0
Super sweet book about a kid named Lou who utilizes the three P's (perseverance, persistence, and patience) to create a mechanism of joy for their sad grandfather. Really lovely.
choirqueer's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved this sweet, sensitive book about a nonbinary child (name is Lou, no pronouns or gender indicators whatsoever) and their two grandfathers, Granddad and Pops. The genders of the grandparents and the child are not major themes in this story at all. The story shows the loving relationship between these three characters. The first half of the book depicts the fun activities they do together. The second half addresses one of the grandfathers experiencing a permanently-disabling injury, and then going through depression when he returns from the hospital. These events are depicted in a strikingly forthright manner -- the author does not shy away from the difficult subject manner, but also does not try to make the reader feel any particular way about these events; they are just things that could realistically happen to someone’s grandparent. The story then ends -- not with any sort of “miracle cure”, but with an honest depiction of how a loving family would come together to support one another in such a circumstance. There is SO much good stuff packed into this little book. It surely could be upsetting to a child, especially if they’re unaware of how aging might affect beloved elders in their life, or conversely if they’re acutely aware of it because their family is coping with something similar. I would definitely recommend that adults preview this one before reading it to children -- both in order to be prepared to discuss it with them afterward, and also so the adult reader can prepare themself for their own emotions that might come up.
leslie_d's review against another edition
5.0
Oh. My. This book. It’s so sweet!
Every Saturday Lou (they/them) visits Grandad and Pops and we’re immediately charmed by the three of them. Grandad and Pops are distinct personalities that have found a rhythm, and obviously a life, together. Lou, who moves between them, learns and benefits from them both.
“Lou goes back and forth between the two and learns that zippers are made from teeth and Elvis was king.”
Smith sets up a rhythm not only for a day, but a relationship, and a story. Until one Saturday, there is an interruption. Pops falls and it means he needs not just a wheelchair for rehabilitation, but for this day onward. He becomes depressed and his absence is felt by Grandad and Lou, “neither can taste the zing.” Lou thinks about what they’ve learned from their time with Grandad and the wonderful inventions…about cause and effect, about ramps, paper cranes, boosts, about plans that led to joy. Lou comes up with a plan for Pops.
They persevere, persist, and try to be patient. They welcome the help of neighbors. Now to lure Pops out.
As Smith masters the charming details that describe Saturdays for Lou, Grandad and Pops, Kerrigan accompanies with details and charm of her own. The illustrations, her composition, coloring, textures, are incredibly appealing. The text can be longer than current trend, but Kerrigan makes it as easy to become absorbed in the story as Smith does. That simple sweet vignette of Lou sitting in the overstuffed chair holding a sleeping Pops. The vibrant scene of a well-tested contraption letting loose the cranes. I was clapping alongside Pops, it is indeed beautiful. The page where “Pops has a fall,” Pops literally flies off the page and exits stage right out of story. The next pages note his absence. Both narratively and technically, Kerrigan adds a dimension all her own.
A Plan for Pops is a great aging grandparents who undergo significant life-changes story. It’s a wonderful STEM book for children who love invention and trouble-shooting. It’s also a great book for drawing the eye towards intersections, tenderness, and community; the things that draw and hold us together. Grandad’s “three Ps—perseverance, persistence, and patience” is applied in creative ways, most significant is the way they use it to demonstrate their love for Pops. There is much to love in this book. I highly recommend it.
Every Saturday Lou (they/them) visits Grandad and Pops and we’re immediately charmed by the three of them. Grandad and Pops are distinct personalities that have found a rhythm, and obviously a life, together. Lou, who moves between them, learns and benefits from them both.
“Lou goes back and forth between the two and learns that zippers are made from teeth and Elvis was king.”
Smith sets up a rhythm not only for a day, but a relationship, and a story. Until one Saturday, there is an interruption. Pops falls and it means he needs not just a wheelchair for rehabilitation, but for this day onward. He becomes depressed and his absence is felt by Grandad and Lou, “neither can taste the zing.” Lou thinks about what they’ve learned from their time with Grandad and the wonderful inventions…about cause and effect, about ramps, paper cranes, boosts, about plans that led to joy. Lou comes up with a plan for Pops.
They persevere, persist, and try to be patient. They welcome the help of neighbors. Now to lure Pops out.
As Smith masters the charming details that describe Saturdays for Lou, Grandad and Pops, Kerrigan accompanies with details and charm of her own. The illustrations, her composition, coloring, textures, are incredibly appealing. The text can be longer than current trend, but Kerrigan makes it as easy to become absorbed in the story as Smith does. That simple sweet vignette of Lou sitting in the overstuffed chair holding a sleeping Pops. The vibrant scene of a well-tested contraption letting loose the cranes. I was clapping alongside Pops, it is indeed beautiful. The page where “Pops has a fall,” Pops literally flies off the page and exits stage right out of story. The next pages note his absence. Both narratively and technically, Kerrigan adds a dimension all her own.
A Plan for Pops is a great aging grandparents who undergo significant life-changes story. It’s a wonderful STEM book for children who love invention and trouble-shooting. It’s also a great book for drawing the eye towards intersections, tenderness, and community; the things that draw and hold us together. Grandad’s “three Ps—perseverance, persistence, and patience” is applied in creative ways, most significant is the way they use it to demonstrate their love for Pops. There is much to love in this book. I highly recommend it.
menomica's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
"Always remember the three Ps-perseverance, persistence and patience!"
This sparked so much joy. I loved how much Lou loved their grandads and how much they interacted with each other. This was so sweet, and a great quick read to start my day.
sunflowerjess's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love everything about this book. I love that it's a story about a nonbinary kid and their gay grandparents, and I love that this book isn't about that - it's just matter-of-fact beautiful representation. I love that this is a story about building, and libraries, and family, and community. I love that it is realistic. I love the sweet story and illustrations.
kaileywicked's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
meghan_whitee's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Taylor and Barbara and the @queenseduc library for a very lovely children’s book