A review by cmw119
When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie L.B. Deenihan

5.0

This is my pick for Picture Book Children's Choice Awards 2020. No, I don't actually get to vote, but after the voting is done the kids always want to know which one was my favorite. "Because" by Mo Willems was cute, but this is my winner this year. Maybe I'm biased because I just LOVE my own grandma.

What's not to like? This is a family story. It's humorous. It teaches the lesson that something you don't want might actually turn out to be a blessing, and it also teaches the lesson that sometimes when you have to put more work and effort into something it ends up becoming not only special to you, but beneficial for a greater community.

I love the illustrations in this one. They're overall bright, friendly, and inviting, and that grows as the story goes along, and it's done purposefully. This parallels the text in such a perfect way. I'm specifically thinking about the inside front and back covers. I don't want to say too much, but take a look at them both and you'll understand what I mean.