Grandad's Camper: A picture book for children that celebrates LGBTQIA+ families

Product Information

This is an important text in terms of the representation of LGBTQIA+ relationships and portraying different family structures. It's so important that little ones grow up and see their type of family set-up reflected in the books you share with them. Following this, children create expanded noun phrases to enhance their descriptive writing and use these to support them in writing poetry about an object which holds a special memory to them.

They will then send a postcard home from Grandad and Gramps on their beach adventure before planning, drafting and editing a sequel for the book where Grandad and the little girl head off on their own campervan adventure.The art throughout Grandad's Camper is dashing, the layouts somehow chockablock and yet never too busy. There are some fine picture books out there revolving around a child's experience of loss, but there aren't many designed to help kids understand someone else's grief. So, their amazing granddaughter comes up with a clever plan to fix up the old camper and get Grandad excited to explore again. Discover a wonderful grandfather-granddaughter relationship, as a little girl hatches the perfect plan to get her Grandad adventuring again.

This picture book, in which a girl helps her grandfather embrace life again following the death of Gramps, may well aid young readers in understanding others' grief. This beautiful picture book honors love and reminds us not only to remember those we have lost, but to celebrate them. That leaves the child's role (and there is no mention of parents, or even that Grandad and Gramps had children) as brackets to the piece, only becoming an active part of the story at the end. For the hope for new adventures, and the glimpse of intergenerational kindness and understanding, this lovely book should be on every shelf.

Inspired by these tales, the narrator encourages Grandad to fix up the van, and the two take it for a road trip to the beach.

A touching tale about a girl’s relationship with her grandfather, which also evokes the wildness and beauty of the coast. Her favourite pastime, however, is to snuggle up with Grandad while he shares tales of his past adventures with Gramps.This poignant tale acknowledges the sadness of losing a loved one, but also celebrates the pleasure of remembering those who have touched our lives. Waterstones Children's Book Award Winner and British Book Awards Nibbies Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year 2023! Every summer, the narrator of this heart-warming tale goes to stay with her grandad in his pretty old cottage by the sea. Roo loves staying with her grandfather in his cottage by the sea and enjoys listening to his wonderful stories. It was inspired by their university dissertation, which revealed a lack of representation for older LGBTQIA+ characters in children’s books.

The depiction of a loving, same-sex relationship between Grandad and Gramps, as well as the different ethnicities of the main characters, ensure this wonderfully inclusive book reflects a range of experiences, representative of today’s society. VERDICT For the hope for new adventures, and the glimpse of intergenerational kindness and understanding, this lovely book should be on every shelf. The artwork is enticing and rich, and readers will be happy to pore over the pages studying details like Grandad's friendly dog and the textured backgrounds as they read and reread the story.She loves to examine the fabulous knick-knacks he has collected on his travels and play hide and seek in his amazing garden. The book reflects on an aspect of mature gay life, a piercing sense of loss, and in the child, of the possibilities still to be found. This is a quiet story that speaks volumes, and astute educators and storytellers will be able to use the book in both intimate storytimes and with larger groups. When Grandad reflects back on his life with Gramps, his memories take the visual form of vignettes showing the younger versions of the men--Grandad white, Gramps with the same brown skin tone as the girl--on the road, at home, or enjoying the great outdoors, but always delighted to be together. As they look through photo albums, he talks fondly about how they travelled the world together in their beloved pink campervan.