Grandpa Books!

When I began collecting books about grandfathers, I was surprised to find such a large selection of books.  I assumed that there would be more grandmother books but it turns out I was wrong.  Both my grandfathers passed away before I was born so the idea of having a grandfather is like a fairy tale for me.

המכנסים של סבא / Grandfather's Pants by עדינה בר-אל / Adina Bar-El is a family favorite.  Grandfather has two pairs of pants - one short and one long.  When he wants to relax, he wears the short pants and when he goes out he wears the long pants. Friday evening he wore the long pants when he went to shul/synagogue. After dinner, he wants to relax and put on his short pants but he can't  find them.  He and Grandma look everywhere - even the dog house!  You will laugh out loud when you find out where the short pants were all along.  Ages 3-6.

סבאלה/ Grandpa by סנונית בנט / Snonit Banet is a sweet, simple book about a boy and his grandfather. They have a wonderful relationship. The boy and his grandfather love to spend time together.  They have a special type of kiss - not on the cheek or on the nose.  They have a special forehead kiss.

 Ages 3-4.

ילדה של ספרים / The Story Girl by עמי גדליה / Ami Gedalyah has always been a favorite of mine.  Gal is especially close to her grandfather who loves to read all the classics to her.  She is a girl with quite an imagination. Gal is totally wrapped up in the stories her father and grandfather read to her.  She ties up the sleeping carpenter just like the Lilliputians tied up Gulliver in Gulliver's Travels. Gali makes pancakes just like Pippi Longstockings by throwing the eggs straight in the pan.

When her grandfather passes away, she learns that in real life there isn't always a happy ending.  But there are always wonderful memories and great things one can do with one's imagination. Ages 8-10.

Tip no. 30

Michael Bond, the author of the Paddington Bear series, passed away last week at the age of 91.

 According to the Jerusalem Post, Bond partly based Paddington Bear on the  WWII Jewish refugee children he saw arriving at London's Reading Train Station with labels around their necks.  I  read elsewhere that Bond based Paddington on the children evacuees leaving London during WWII with labels around their necks and small suitcases in their hands.