Grandpa Baby

Margaret Wild (text)

Deborah Niland (illus)

Viking, Australia: 2009

ISBN: 9780670071746

Genre: picture book

While his parents are working, Georgie is cared for by his Grandpa. They do all the usual things - they make sandcastles, they play, they read stories. Then one day Georgie decides that it's time for a change and that she'll be Big and Grandpa will be Baby.

A hilarious day ensues as Grandpa finds his inner child and rediscovers the joys of naughtiness, and Georgie plays the responsible, loving adult. The ease with which Georgie manages Grandpa Baby implies much about how Grandpa normally cares for Georgie, just as Grandpa's Baby behaviour tells the reader about Georgie. Cleverly written to stimulate imaginary play as well as explore roles and responsibilities within families, this is fun to read.

Deborah Niland's delightful illustrations convey the warmth of the relationship between the two characters and also the comical image of an adult ‘baby'. She manages a huge range of emotional expression within such simple drawings and there is much here for the visual reader to explore.