Grandparents' Day

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

Omi is not your ordinary grandmother. She doesn’t look like other
grandmothers, doesn’t dress like them, and doesn’t even live in a
house like they do. So, even though it’s fun to play games and hang
out with Omi at home, it is understandable why one might have second
thoughts about taking her to Grandparents’ Day at school.

As each of the “normal” grandparents is introduced he/she shares
something with the class. Finally, it’s Omi’s turn. Slowly, she
pulls up her pant leg to reveal a huge, purplish, blue-black scar—the
result of a snakebite—and before long, she has the entire class
mesmerized, waiting breathlessly for her next astonishing tale of
adventure. Far from an embarrassment, Omi is the star of the show.

As Omi and her grandchild wander home after school, it is obvious that
the child now has a much greater appreciation for Omi’s unique
qualities: “I hope nobody finds a cure for weirdness.”

Nikki Tate’s charming autobiographical story could be used in primary
classrooms to encourage appreciation of individual differences, to
promote self-esteem, or simply for enjoyment. Benoоt Laverdiиre’s
bold, larger-than-life depiction of the characters—especially
Omi—adds to the appeal. Recommended.