Visiting Granny

Ethel M. King-Shaw is a professor emeritus of curriculum and instruction
at the University of Calgary.

Granny’s kitchen is filled with materials that attract all the senses.
Jenny and Stevey find bright colors, cookies to taste, pizza to smell,
oinking piglets, clay to mold, and a scary book to read. Interwoven with
the children’s activities is the counting of animals from one to five.
These activities are not as integral a part of the story as they might
be and, in fact seem like an intrusion into the storyline. There are
many other opportunities to focus attention on counting objects in the
kitchen—apples, flowers, spoons, plates, and books. The recipe for
Granny’s raisin cookies is an excellent feature, as it provides
another activity for the readers.

The doll-like figures in the illustrations are truly delightful. The
pictures’ simple lines and muted colors will greatly appeal to
children. There are lots of interesting details without clutter.

Author and artist Fernandes has produced a stimulating, creative book
that will be enjoyed by children who like to spend time in a playhouse.