Friday, March 13, 2015

My Grandma's a Ninja by Todd Tarpley



MY GRANDMA'S A NINJA
by Todd Tarpley 
Illustrated by Danny Chatzikonstantinou
NorthSouth
Picture Book 
Ages 4 - 8
40 pages



Copyright 2015 NorthSouth Books  

When Ethan’s grandma suggests they take a zip line to school, Ethan realizes that his grandma is a little different. In fact, she’s a ninja! Ethan is soon the hit of the school when his grandma drops from the ceiling at show-and-tell, and teaches the kids karate moves and how to do backflips in slow motion. But when his grandma deflates his team’s soccer ball, everyone is upset—including Ethan. Why can’t he just have a regular grandma? But when Ethan tries out his new karate movesduring the championship game . . . he’s happy that his grandma isn’t ordinary.




MY TIDBITS

After reading this, my youngest and I wished our grandma was a ninja. (Although Grandma laughed when we asked her to go into training). Ethan's grandma is unstoppable! And tons of fun. She springs into action, able to do the most amazing ninja tricks, everything a ninja should do.

The illustrations are priceless, adding so much to the already fun plot, and that's exactly what a picture book should do. As to the story itself, it's well-written for the intended age group and keeps a great pace as the reader follows Ethan's adventures from one page to the next. This is one of those books that will have to be read again and again and again and again. At least, my daughter still has me reading it.
Copyright 2015 NorthSouth Books 

Even though there's tons of fun, there's a wonderful message too--for Ethan and his grandma. Despite a moment of concern, the solution leaves a warm feeling of love. Oh, and a perfect, grandma surprise too. 

Summed up, this is a fun book boys and girls will really enjoy. After all, ninjas, especially grandma ones, are simply cool.




You can find this on. . .








Copyright 2015 NorthSouth Books 




And here he is. . .

TODD TARPLEY!!!

My list of the greatest things in life is pretty short: Watching a 1-year-old walk. Tickling a 2-year-old. Listening to a 3-year-old talk about his day. Seeing my own little kids blossom into big kids.

Somewhere there's a parent and a child cuddled up together reading a book, maybe even under the covers by flashlight. And there is giggling and page-turning and flailing limbs and joy and snot and probably some farting. And how great is that?

It's the greatest.

www.toddtarpley.com

8 comments:

Tyrean Martinson said...

Love the concept! I wish I could take a zipline around town. :)

Katie TheLogonauts said...

Sounds so cute and a real winner with kids! Thanks for sharing with #KidLitBlogHop today.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Would be perfect for my Ninja loving son. Thanks for the sharing in #KidLitBlogHop. Sorry, I deleted the previous comment accidentally.

Sheila said...

This looks great! Very amusing storyline and I like the illustrations. Stopping by from the kid lit blog hop :)

BCuenin said...

So cute - we love ninjas, and I love the idea of a grandma ninja! Thanks for sharing via the Kid Lit Blog Hop

Jambo said...

Oh wow, we have another Grandma ninja book that is a huge hit in our house, so we simply must have this one too, especially with those fantastic illustrations. Thanks so much for another great recommendation on the Kid Lit Blog Hop

Cathy L Murphy said...

This book looks delightful! I love that Grandma appears to be wearing her pearls and carrying her purse. Priceless! Visiting from the Kid Lit Blog Hop.