Banjo Granny

Starred review from October 30, 2006
This mother-daughter team's debut collaboration opens with the lyrics and music for "Owen's Song," a bluegrass ode that sets the tone for this lighthearted and endearing tale. Readers then meet Owen's granny. When she hears that the toddler is "a baby who went wiggly, jiggly,/ all-around giggly,/ and tip over tumble/ for bluegrass music," that granny laces up her "thousand-mile shoes," packs her banjo in its "trusty old case with the taped-up handle" and sets out on foot to visit her grandson. Birds arrive on the cherubic toddler's windowsill to report on his granny's progress, while the determined woman encounters daunting obstacles: she crosses a fast, deep river, climbs a tall, steep mountain and traverses a hot, wide desert, each time using "Owen's Song" to negotiate her path. In Root's (Central Park Serenade
) gold-flecked, majestic landscapes, river, mountain and desert magically cooperate with Owen's delighted granny. His paintings create a sense of anticipation for both characters, so that when his granny finally reaches Owen's house, their hug feels like a culmination. With its heartwarming message and visuals, this is a celebration of the bond between grandparent and child. Ages 2-5.

Starred review from December 1, 2006
PreS-Gr 2-This modern tall tale, told with a finely tuned bluegrass twang, is a fresh and lively paean to intergenerational love. When Owens granny learns that he goes wiggly, jiggly, /all-around giggly, /and tip over tumble/for bluegrass music, she packs up her banjo, puts on her thousand-mile shoes, and heads out on foot for a visit. As she overcomes great distances and seemingly insurmountable geographical obstacles through the magic of her melody, the child waits excitedly for her arrival. The heartwarming conclusion brings the two together, dancing in the glow of the sun and to Grannys rendition of Owens Song (lyrics and music are included). Roots fluid artwork brings warmth, movement, and color to the rhythmic text. The intrepid, sneaker-wearing woman and her young grandson have expressive faces, and the natural landscapes are painted with a mix of realism and whimsy. This is an up-to-date story with family members separated by distance and a dynamic grandmother with vim and vigor. However, the narratives cadence and traditional structure make the tale feel timeless."Tamara E. Richman, Somerset County Library System, Bridgewater, NJ"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2006
It's always fun for a small child safe at home to imagine danger in the wide world. Part lullaby and part tall tale, this warm picture book is both cozy and exciting. As he wakes up in the rosy day, Owen hears from the birds that Granny is walking to him with her banjo in its old taped-up case. Although the river is fast and deep, the mountain is tall and steep, and the desert is wide and worrisome, when Granny sings about her grandbaby "who goes wiggly, jiggly / all-around giggly / and tip over tumble / for bluegrass music," she calms the water, gets the mountain to bend down, and sails cross the sand in her long nightgown. The bond between the toddler and Granny climaxes in their final, joyful embrace. The bright, sunny art connects the quiet inside scenes with the wild outdoor ones, and the rhythmic text is exactly right for the lap-sitting crowd, who will chant and act out the story again and again. Musical notation heads the story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2007
When Granny hears that her grandbaby goes "wiggly, jiggly, all-around giggly" over bluegrass music, she packs her banjo, dons her thousand-mile shoes, and heads for a visit. The warm watercolor, gouache, and pastel-pencil illustrations depict different scenes from Granny's journey and baby Owen eagerly awaiting her arrival. An author's note gives information about bluegrass music; music for "Owen's Song" is included.

(Copyright 2007 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)