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WHEN GRANDPA CAME TO STAY by Judith Caseley

WHEN GRANDPA CAME TO STAY

By

Pub Date: March 17th, 1986
Publisher: Greenwillow

Shortly after Grandma Sarah's death, Grandpa Jacob moves in with his daughter's family. He and his grandson, Benny, soon become great friends, as Benny listens eagerly to stories of Grandpa's childhood. Their bond strengthens as they share special moments and discover that they like to do the same things. However, it isn't long before their newfound relationship is strained by Grandpa's grief over Grandma's death. One evening, Grandpa begins to cry. When Benny's mother comforts him, Benny becomes angry at this display of emotion, which he doesn't understand. In a burst of temper, Benny tells his family he doesn't like crying grandpas, and runs from the room. His mother and Grandpa take turns explaining their feelings of sadness about Grandma's death; Benny is both reassured by their explanations and remorseful about his outburst. He and Grandpa are once again friends. The story concludes with a visit to Grandma's grave. site by Benny and Grandpa. There they sip hot tea and eat cookies with Grandma--since ""Grandma loved cookies, too."" As a parting gesture, Grandpa plants a tulip bed by the grave, and Benny waters the flowers. As in Caseley's earlier books, Molly Pink and Molly Pink Goes Hiking, the simple drawings are a good complement to the text, gently portraying events that build Benny and Grandpa's relationship. However, there is little insight into Benny's feelings about his grandmother's death, and the change in his life now that Grandpa is there to stay.