Getting Us to Grandma’s
- Publisher
- Groundwood Books Ltd
- Initial publish date
- Oct 2024
- Category
- General, African American, Travel
- Recommended Age
- 3 to 6
- Recommended Grade
- p to 1
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781773066899
- Publish Date
- Oct 2024
- List Price
- $21.99
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781773066905
- Publish Date
- Oct 2024
- List Price
- $16.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
No one knows maps like Nikki — but can she get her family to Grandma's house in time?
Nikki’s family is preparing for a long road trip from Toronto to the Bronx to attend Uncle Travis's wedding. They pack their suitcases, boxes of Jamaican black cake, and most importantly to Nikki, the big map book!
Nikki loves geography and enjoys tracing the routes to all the places her relatives live — her Grandpa in Florida, her cousins in Atlanta, DC, and Boston. She daydreams of England, where other family lives, and Jamaica and Africa, where her roots run deep.
Her attention comes back to the road trip when it’s clear that Daddy’s taken a wrong turn. “I can help!” says Nikki, who proves to be an excellent navigator. She guides them back to the Bronx Expressway, under the elevated subway tracks, onto a street of brown row houses and safely to Grandma’s.
Inspired by the childhoods of author Nadia L. Hohn and illustrator TeMika Grooms, Getting Us to Grandma’s is full of fun historic details — a world before Google Maps! — and authentic cultural moments shared by diasporic families, whose stories can be traced across continents. A fantastic representation of Black girls in STEM.
Key Text Features
Illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
About the authors
NADIA L. HOHN is a writer and educator. Her first picture book, Malaika’s Costume, won the Helen Isobel Sissons Canadian Children’s Story Award and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) Children’s Literature Award. She is also the author of Malaika’s Winter Carnival and Malaika’s Surprise, both illustrated by Irene Luxbacher; A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes; Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter, illustrated by Gustavo Mazali; and two titles in the Sankofa series — Music and Media. Nadia’s writing is inspired by her childhood memories, Jamaican heritage, Black culture, world travels, and social issues. She lives in Toronto.
TEMIKA GROOMS is a writer and illustrator with a passion for creating stories for young readers. She grew up reading comics and books by Shel Silverstein and honed her artistic training in traditional fine art. TeMika’s first picture book, Put Your Shoes On & Get Ready! was written by Senator Raphael G. Warnock. TeMika lives on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, with her cat and her two daughters, whom she affectionately calls Thing One and Thing Two.
Editorial Reviews
An affirming family story featuring a smart young woman.
School Library Journal
The paint-like artwork adds an element of a classic picture book feel to a story not seen often.
Canadian Children's Book News
This sweetly satisfying story about a child saving the day will resonate with young readers while adults will enjoy the nostalgic journey.
Youth Services Book Review
Other titles by
Patty Dreams
The Antiracist Kitchen
21 Stories (and Recipes)
Malaika, Carnival Queen
La surprise de Malaika
Malaika’s Surprise
A Likkle Miss Lou
How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice
Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter
Le carnaval de Malaika
Malaika’s Winter Carnival
