Book Descriptions
for My Two Grannies by Floella Benjamin and Margaret Chamberlain
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
From The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY)
Alvina lives near her two grannies: Granny Vero who emigrated from Trinidad and Granny Rose who always lived in Great Britain. The two grannies offer to care for Alvina so her parents can take a vacation for their tenth anniversary. Cultural clashes—and a bit of jealousy—quickly intrude. Granny Vero suggests rice and peas with chicken and plantains. Granny Rose proposes a steak and kidney pie. Food is not the only debate: zoo or park? Dominoes or board game? “Anansi” or “Jack and the Beanstalk”? In the end, compromise diminishes all disagreements, so Alvina’s week is a spectacular success—for everyone. 2009 USBBY Outstanding International Books List. lmp
Originally published by Frances Lincoln Great Britain, in 2007.
From the Publisher
Alvina has two grannies who she loves with all her heart. Grannie Vero is from the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Grannie Rose is from the north of England. When Alvina's parents go away on holiday, both the grannies move in to Alvina's house to look after her. But the two grannies want to do different things, eat different food, play different games and tell different stories. The grannies get crosser and crosser with each other, but Alvina thinks of a way they can do all the things their own way so the grannies can become the best of friends.