Irene Smalls is an excellent writer of children’s picture books concerning family relationships. Previous elementary students picture books are Jonathan and His Mommy, Kevin and His Dad and My Pop Pop and Me. In My Nana and Me, Ms. Smalls writes about the special relationship between a granddaughter and her Nana (grandmother). The two spend an entire day alone in each other’s company. It is a joyous occasion.

Cathy Ann Johnson’s watercolors convey the love between the two generations. The pictures' background have a brownish-golden hue. It is like a spiritual bond of love. They illustrate Nana braiding Lucky-Girl’s hair. Happiness shines on their faces during their tea party, pat-a-cake and hike-and-seek. The brownish-gold hues represent the nuggets of wisdom Nana bestows on her granddaughter throughout the day ending with bath and bedtime.

Ms. Smalls uses simple rhyming sentences to tell the story of My Nana and Me. Rhythmic text is like that in the before mentioned books. Children love the rhyming words. Kids between four and eight-year-old can either read it or follow easily the picture book’s story. My Nana and Me has twenty-four pages.

My Nana and Me tells about the relationship with her grandmother. Irene Smalls, author, writes it from the little girl’s point of view. It should be a part of all grandparents’ special children library. It is a fact that children who build strong, loving bonds when young grow into self-confident adults. Irene Smalls gets an A+ for another picture book about family relationships. The adventure book is great for Mother’s Day or Grandparents' Day. Purchase or borrow a copy and curl up with that special little girl.



Son and mother share a special relationship in Irene Smalls' Jonathan and His Mommy.



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Note: Nana and Me review copy is part of a friend's private library.