My Grandma and Me
Publisher: Candlewick Press
A true tale of a young girl in Iran who idolises and follows her grandmother everywhere, this is a beautiful ode to family and lifelong memories.
The story focuses on Mina's daily life with her grandma: from collecting wonderful fresh bread from the delivery boy to fasting and feasting during Ramadan. This is all observed with simple but affecting detail and the illustrations are just jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Lindsey Yankey draws the situations with glorious colours and intricate patterns that fill the book with a sense of wonder and joy.
There is also a subtly inclusive message to the book, as we see Mina's grandma chatting and laughing with her best friend. Although she goes to church and Mina's grandma goes to a mosque, the book only ever focuses on what unites them: universal, everyday things like knitting, prayers, drinking coffee and watching their grandchildren as they play together.
The love that Mina has for her grandma will have you welling up in the final page ('I've never loved anything or anyone the way I loved my grandma') and feeling even more appreciative of the grandparents that you have, or have had, in your life.
