Joey Visits Grandpa

Clarion Rating: 4 out of 5

Children will have fun coming up with solutions to Grandpa’s problems and comparing them with Joey’s.

From the fish tank to the freezer, Joey never knows where he’s going to find Grandpa’s glasses next! Patricia Nichvolodoff’s Joey Visits Grandpa is a delightful tale that is sure to cause tons of giggles at bedtime.

The story is basic enough: Grandpa is always leaving his glasses somewhere interesting. With such a simple plot, young readers can enjoy the book by themselves while Shannen Marie Paradero’s colorful illustrations add an extra level of understanding.

No matter where Joey finds the glasses, Nichvolodoff includes phrases such as “but there was one small problem” and “But guess what happened?” which add in appropriate and entertaining doses of humor and anticipation.

Since Joey Visits Grandpa is geared toward age groups that respond to repetition, this tendency means that listeners, too, can participate in the story. Children will have fun coming up with solutions to Grandpa’s problems and comparing them with Joey’s. The ending also opens the door for a future sequel.

The text comes in an easy-to-read font size that won’t intimidate younger kids. Each page features a large illustration, and children will simply love pointing out Grandpa’s glasses in places like the fish tank and the pancake batter. Nichvolodoff’s text and Paradero’s pictures work seamlessly together to create a cohesive story.

The loving relationship between Joey and his Grandpa is a welcome aspect of the story; it is clear that the author wants their connection to be an important theme. In fact, they are the only two characters (with the exception of the black-and-white dog in the illustrations), so there are no other storylines or characters getting in the way of their heartwarming tale.

Joey Visits Grandpa is sure to leave plenty of smiles in its wake.

Reviewed by Kelly Thunstrom

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Load Next Review