Score: 92/100 (9.2 out of 10)
The Best Summer Guest is another heartwarming, love-filled book by Tuula Pere! The book centers on the unique and special relationship between a child and his grandmother. Many of us who were fortunate enough to know and spend time with our grandmothers remember that there was something... different about it. It was different than time with your parents. Simultaneously, it was different from time with your friends, siblings, and classmates. Time with grandma was something else. People talk about maternal and paternal instinct, but few talk about a grandparent's instincts and inclinations. Yes, there's the stereotype that grandparents feel less responsibility and so are more inclined to spoil the child and return them to their parents high on sugar and bouncing off the walls. Ok, that might be more of a reality than a stereotype. Anyway, there's more to that dynamic than just that. Grandparents have a unique and different way of loving you. They have a unique and different way of treating you. They have a unique and different way of viewing you. They offer a wealth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom that sadly don't get explored much in children's books anymore. In fact, Grandma, I don't Want to Go to Sleep by Richard Ceasor and Axel Washes the Rug (also by Tuula Pere) are the only other books we can think of in terms of this dynamic. The Best Summer Guest follows a little boy named Jonty who is faced with the prospect of spending his summer vacation without his parents, instead spending it with his grandmother, Grandma Gladys. Being separated from one's parents for an extended length of time can be very intimidating. Furthermore, being in a new, unfamiliar place can also be a cause for concern and anxiety. We can definitely relate to Jonty! However, no matter where you are or what you're doing in life, there's always something (or someone) familiar to cling onto. And that's where Grandma Gladys comes in! Grandma Gladys is able to provide structure, guidance, safety, and security in the absence of Jonty's parents. These things give Jonty the courage to explore and try new things (like baking, fishing, and setting up games with yarn and scarves, and tossing pine cones) with less fear and anxiety. They also give him a sense of familiarity and comfort that allow him to do the things he's always loved to do like playing with his toys/stuffed animals and reading with a loved one. Jonty soon discovers that Grandma Gladys has a knack for turning everyday moments into delightful adventures. Together, they visit the farmer’s market, play imaginative games, and bake cinnamon buns for Grandma’s friends, the “Bun Angels.” Jonty also explores Grandma’s cottage, finding hidden treasures and learning to tie knots. One of the highlights of the summer is Grandma's birthday, where a joyous celebration with friends and unique gifts makes Jonty feel cherished and happy. By the end of the summer, Jonty realizes that he has made lasting memories with Grandma Gladys and has had the best summer ever. Grandma Gladys is a delightful character, full of warmth and creativity. Her ability to turn everyday activities into magical adventures is a highlight of the book. Whether it's baking cinnamon buns, playing imaginative games, or exploring the cottage's hidden treasures, Grandma Gladys ensures that Jonty’s summer is filled with memorable experiences. These moments are well illustrated by Milena Radeva, whose artwork brings the characters and their adventures to life. Now, in all honesty, we would've loved to have seen a bit more color in these illustrations. They are a lot more like the illustrations in Lullaby of the Valley by the same author. Some things are colorless while others are brightly colored. Perhaps this was done to emphasize certain things/objects like the suitcase in the driveway or the peas on the counter top. Jonty and Grandma Gladys are pretty well illustrated. One thing that we admired was the emphasis on Gladys's hair (which is clearly dyed a reddish-brown). She also looks totally different from every other grandmother in any other book we've read. Everything about her design tells a story. First of all, there's her aforementioned dyed hair. She also seems to share the same eye-color as Jonty (though that may just be the glint of the light off her glasses). She wears rectangular-framed glasses, implying structure and rigidity—literally like the foundation of a home. That's poetic considering she's the matriarch of the family. She's heavier-set and stocky, perhaps even a bit short. However, she's definitely cute as a character. It can also be noted that Grandma Gladys isn't above wearing bright, floral-print, colorful outfits—things which you'd expect a much younger person to wear. This suggests to us that, though she may be on the older side, she doesn't let that hold her back. Furthermore, she takes good care of her skin, especially her wrinkled feet (with lotion). She also goes out and swims in the lake! She has more guts than a lot of us in that regard. She's rather adventurous and physical. If there's one noticeable flaw about this book, it's the text size. The text size is too small, which makes reading challenging, especially if you're turning your head back and forth to read it to children. It's not untenable, but it is still a challenge. We wonder if, when this was translated from Finnish, maybe the text was converted to a smaller size. Other books by Pere, like A Birch Tree's Year, occasionally have issues with wordiness or text size, but it's not as noticeable as in this book. One of the most endearing aspects of the book is its focus on the special bond between Jonty and his grandmother. Their interactions are genuine and heartwarming, showcasing the importance of intergenerational relationships. The book also subtly imparts values such as kindness, creativity, and resilience, making it both an enjoyable and educational read for children. This book is also an example of community and that it takes a village to raise a child. Grandma Gladys isn't the only one in here to contributes to Jonty's growth, though she does facilitate his other interactions. For example, a neighbor and builder named Teddy comes to help with some of the maintenance around the house, something which Grandma Gladys probably lacks the skill and physical capacity (now) to do. The Bun Angels also come to socialize with Grandma and Jonty, particularly about baked goods. Come to think of it, the theme of baking as a unifying factor carries into this book from Mother's Bread Dough, another book by the author. Grandma also has a lot of guests who come to her birthday, many of whom bring gifts. What this tells us, the reader, is that Grandma is a charismatic figure whose kindness, friendliness, and charm have made her a lot of friends and, thus, brought a lot of people together. Check it out on Amazon!
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