Grandad's Island
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
After the phenomenal success of The Storm Whale and On Sudden Hill, this new book by Benji Davies deals with the emotional topic of losing a grandparent. Subtly told, this beautifully illustrated book tackles a difficult subject with great sensitivity and depth.
At the bottom of Syd’s garden, through the gate and past the tree, is Grandad’s house. Syd can let himself in any time he likes. But one day when Syd comes to call, Grandad isn’t in any of the usual places. He’s in the attic, where he ushers Syd through a door, and the two of them journey to a wild, beautiful island awash in color where Grandad decides he will remain. So Syd hugs Grandad one last time and sets sail for home. Visiting Grandad’s house at the bottom of the garden again, he finds it just the same as it’s always been — except that Grandad isn’t there anymore. Sure to provide comfort to young children struggling to understand loss, Benji Davies’s tale is a sensitive and beautiful reminder that our loved ones live on in our memories long after they’re gone.
Praise for Grandad's Island:
'Davies’s elegantly rough illustrations, evoking a child’s paintings, tap into the imagination of death with little fuss, and his story declines to offer kids instruction on how to feel. Indeed, Grandad’s Island doesn’t mention death at all, but is deeply in touch with the ways in which loss and abundance commingle in the mind, correcting and assuaging each other.' The New York Times Book Review
'The creator of The Storm Whale (2014) offers another thoughtful picture book guaranteed to spark discussion...Recommend to young families dealing with loss, especially those who prefer to gloss over the scientific realities.' Booklist Online
'As with The Storm Whale, Davies offers a story of loneliness and togetherness distinguished by understated, deeply felt emotions and a nautical milieu.' Publishers Weekly
'This book is innovative and useful as a way to talk about the idea of loss—without ever referring to actual death. Parents and educators can use this to talk with a child about how it’s normal to be sad and miss loved ones...Cheerful, brightly colored illustrations make this a fine choice to use with the youngest of audiences. Since death isn’t directly specified, this title also works for when a child’s loved one is moving far away. An excellent vehicle to gently approach the topic of loss. Recommended for collections needing these types of materials.' School Library Journal
'Grandad's Island by British author-illustrator Benji Davies (The Storm Whale; Bizzy Bear series) celebrates a close grandfather-grandson relationship with warmth and style. Whether it's read as a picture book about love, loss or just missing someone who isn't around anymore, it's a charmer. Cheerful cinematic spreads invite young readers into all sorts of intriguing places, from a cozy attic full of curiosities like a turtle teapot, to a vast ship's deck, to the deep jungle of an island paradise.' Shelf Awareness for Readers
'A resonant, layered tale that will only gain in texture as its readers get older.' USA Today
Books from the World of the Storm Whale:
The Storm Whale
The Storm Whale in Winter
Grandma Bird
Also by Benji Davies:
On Sudden Hill, written by Linda Sarah
When the Dragons Came, written by Naomi Kefford and Lynne Moore
Jump on Board the Animal Train, written by Naomi Kefford and Lynne Moore
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When faced with death, children are often told, for better or worse, that the person is in a better place now. In the case of a boy named Syd, he knows for a fact that his Grandad is somewhere pretty spectacular. In this gentle, magic-tinged allegory, Grandad lives in a small house back behind Syd's home. After opening a "big metal door" in Grandad's attic, the two are transported to the deck of a giant ocean liner, which towers over the neighboring buildings in their seaside town. A quick journey takes Syd and Grandad to an island dense with jungle foliage and populated by colorful birds, orangutans, and wonders to discover. Together, they refurbish a raggedy shack on stilts and splash around below a waterfall, after which Grandad tells Syd, "I'm thinking of staying," and the boy returns home. "The journey seemed much longer without Grandad," writes Davies. As with The Storm Whale, Davies offers a story of loneliness and togetherness distinguished by understated, deeply felt emotions and a nautical milieu. Ages 4 8.
Customer Reviews
Read and Reviewed by Year 1 Students
Cayley
Syd and Grandad were best friends, there was a key under the flower pot so Syd could let himself into Grandad’s house any time he wanted. One day Syd called around to see Grandad but he wasn't there, he looked in all the usual places he knew Grandad would be but he wasn't there. He was about to leave but then Syd heard Grandad calling him.
They went into Grandads attic and they saw lots of boxes and Syd asked what was in those boxes, Grandad told him that there were charms from all over the world.
Grandad told him to open up the metal door, he did and appeared on a deck of a boat (the deck could have been plastic or glass). Grandad pulled the horn and then they set sail and then Syd found land.
They got off at the island and had to swim half way to get there and when they arrived Grandad and Syd went to find a shady place because it was very sunny and they were very hot. Then they found a little house that was very ugly and they decided to decorate it with pretty flowers and leaves, and they also did up the outside so it was spick and span. Then they went to explore the island.
Grandad painted a picture of a sunset with boats and the next day they went swimming and Grandad slid down the waterfall. Grandad then told Syd that he was thinking of staying on the island and Syd was very sad, Syd was thinking of telling Grandad he wanted to stay on the island but he couldn't because he wouldn't be lonely because he had all of his animal friends.
Then Syd hugged Grandad very tightly for the last time and then Syd went back to his house.
Syd went back around to Grandad’s house and went to his attic for one last time and something knocked at the window. A parrot just gave him a letter and he opened it gently so he didn't break anything inside. There was a picture of Grandad with two parrots on his head and a monkey standing next to him.
I think Grandad likes the island and he was thinking of telling Syd to come over and see the island and see how pretty he had made it. I wondered why Grandad didn't keep the boat because he could of gone with Syd took him home and kept the boat on the islandso he could visit the rest of his family when he wanted. I really liked the book because Syd went to a new island that he hadn't been to the before and it reminded me of an island I have been to before. Syd’s Grandad looks like Santa. I really like the pictures and the birds I reminds me of a picture I bought when I was on a cruise.
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Noah
Syd and Grandad were best friends. One day Grandad showed him the attic and he showed him a metal door, Syd was so surprised. Syd found a big ship behind the door, he was so surprised he couldn't believe his eyes. Grandad steered the boat really good until Syd cried ‘land ahoy’.
I think they went on a row boat back to the shore. Grandad and Syd explored the island and they found a little shack. They went inside and it was nearly older than Grandad, they made the little shabby place nice. They found a waterfall and painted a picture and then they went swimming.
Grandad really liked the place and thought he would like to stay. It was time for Syd for to go and they hugged for the very last time. Syd steered the ship until he got home. The next day he couldn't find Grandad anywhere at his house. The metal door wasn't there anymore. Syd found a postcard at the window, it was from Grandad showing Syd that he was happy.
I really liked the pictures, it looked like they were coloured in. I liked how Syd helped Grandad make a home.
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Sharelle
Syd went to his Grandad’s house and found the key under the flowerpot. He looked for Grandad and couldn't find him anywhere, he found Grandad climbing up the ladder. Grandad took Syd up to the attic and found a metal door. When they opened the metal door they were on a boat.
Syd found an island and Grandad drove the boat to the island. When they got to the island they found a cool place and it was a house with ladder. Grandad and Syd tied the leaves to the house to make the house look nice.
Grandad and Syd did some painting and swimming. Grandad decided to stay on the island with all the animals. Grandad and Syd cuddled so much and then Syd left the island. Syd drove the boat back to Grandad’s house, when he got back to Grandad's house he couldn't find the metal door. On the window was an envelope and he opened it to see what was inside. Inside was photo of Grandad with his monkey.
I really liked this book because Syd had a cat, just like me. I liked that the ship was a surprise and that Grandad and Syd went swimming in the water because I like swimming too.