A Plan for Pops
$14.95 USD
paperback
In this illustrated picture book, a child helps their grandfathers deal with a difficult change in abilities.
"A positive and realistic representation of both a wheelchair user and an elderly, interracial gay male couple." —Kirkus Reviews
"A beautiful and uplifting book." —School Library Journal
Lou spends every Saturday with Grandad and Pops. They walk to the library hand in hand, like a chain of paper dolls. Grandad reads books about science and design, Pops listens to rock and roll, and Lou bounces from lap to lap. But everything changes one Saturday. Pops has a fall. That night there is terrible news: Pops will need to use a wheelchair, not just for now, but for always. Unable to cope with his new circumstances, he becomes withdrawn and shuts himself in his room. Hearing Grandad trying to cheer up Pops inspires Lou to make a plan. Using skills learned from Grandad, and with a little help from their neighbors, Lou comes up with a plan for Pops.
Heather Smith is the author of several picture books, including the award-winning The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden. Her middle-grade novel Ebb and Flow was shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award, and her YA novel The Agony of Bun O'Keefe won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award, the OLA Forest of Reading White Pine Award and was shortlisted for the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award and the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People. Originally from Newfoundland, Heather now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her family.
Brooke Kerrigan has loved drawing ever since she was a little girl, so it seemed only natural that she would grow up to be an artist. Of all her creative endeavors, illustrating children's books is her favorite. Brooke has illustrated over 10 picture books, including design-award-winning Fishermen Through & Through and the Blue Spruce honor book The Little Boy Who Lived Down the Drain. Born in Toronto, she currently lives with her husband in the French Alps.
"A positive and realistic representation of both a wheelchair user and an elderly, interracial gay male couple. " -Kirkus Reviews
"Accompanied by Kerrigan's muted, pastel-coloured illustrations… Smith's narrative creates a fully rounded and sympathetic storyline with characters with whom youngsters will likely be able to identify…A delicious, enjoyable, and necessary narrative for modern families with a non-normative makeup. Highly Recommended." -CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"A fond and sympathetic story, told with attractive particulars, of the challenging pitfalls of aging and their effects on the family…[A] welcome reminder that even after a daunting change, family can still be family." -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A beautiful and uplifting book to help children learn how to handle challenges and help others; a great choice for intergenerational picture book shelves." -School Library Journal
"The bond between Lou and [their] loving grandparents shines through in this unique story. The matter-of-factness of their relationship is worth noting, as this type of representation for same-sex couples will help children appreciate the diversity that exists in many families, without overstating it." -Resource Links
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