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Summary
Summary
Larry is a little lamb with a larger-than-life grandmother. She talks loudly, carries a heavy sewing machine, and has big plans to take Larry to Tanzania and the South Seas when he grows up. She even has a secret handshake. It's all too much for shy little Larry--until a summer storm blows through the Lambs' valley, and Larry finds an unlikely hero in his own family.
Kate and Sarah Klise's gentle tribute to the bond between child and grandparent reminds us that it often takes time for little ones to fall in love--even with those who love them the most. Grammy Lamby and the Secret Handshake is perfect for grandparents and their own little lambs.
Author Notes
Kate Klise lives and writes on her forty-acre farm in a valley north of Norwood, Missouri.
M. Sarah Klise draws and paints out of her studio in Berkeley, California.
Kate and Sarah are sisters who have collaborated on illustrated novels for children as well as picture books, including Shall I Knit You a Hat? and Why Do You Cry?
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-The artwork is the strength of this selection. Created with acrylics in soft earth tones, the images of a young lamb and his family at home and about town with a bevy of other critters are absolutely adorable. The story does not have the same intense appeal. Larry thinks Grammy Lamby is annoying and rejects her gentle efforts to bond with him via a "secret handshake" when she visits. She appears to be a traditional grandmother, drinking tea and sewing, but she springs into action after a storm and helps repair the roof of her family's home, assists with rebuilding a school and church, and sets up her sewing machine in the town square to make items for those in need. This all sounds exciting, but the text lacks sufficient development to avoid an odd, albeit unintended, implication. It's only after Grammy has performed these feats that Larry warms up to her, so the takeaway seems to be that it requires extraordinary measures to gain another's affection and admiration (when everyday demonstrations of love should be enough). The jacket synopsis touts the story as an example of the time it takes for "little ones to fall in love." The illustrations are lovely; the story is a misfire.-Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The Klise sisters (Little Rabbit and the Meanest Mother on Earth) have once again hit the nail on the head: some relatives-okay, old relatives-fill kids with dread. Take Larry Lamb's Grammy Lamby: she's loud, boring, and clueless, sewing pink polka-dot pajamas for Larry, bellowing about "fabulous" adventures that just the two of them can take, and embarrassing him with her triple squeeze secret handshake. "He even said in his head, 'Please (squeeze). Go (squeeze). Away (squeeze).' " Worst of all, Larry feels completely alone in his misery (his dislike of Grammy Lamby is his "big secret"). M. Sarah Klise's assertively girly rendering style makes a terrific visual foil for the beleaguered hero's humiliation and horror. When a big storm hits, Larry discovers that Grammy Lamby is actually a can-do dynamo, capable of rebuilding Larry's damaged home and spearheading cleanup efforts for the entire valley. Most embarrassing relatives don't get the opportunity to reveal another side of themselves as Grammy Lamby does, but this empathetic story may persuade readers that there's a real human being behind that unfortunate gift or too-tight hug. Ages 4-8. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
So, whats not to love about grandmothers? If youre Larry Lamb, plenty. When his grandma comes to stay, she likes to sip tea, sew, wear a big hat, sing loudly in church, and insist on sharing a secret handshake that involves squeezing his hand three times to signal: I. Love. You. Larrys reaction? "Embarrassing." The Klise sisters give young readers an antidote to those sentimental books that gush over immediate and unconditional love between grandparents (even those who live far away) and children. That love takes time, and shared experiences. When a community catastrophe extends Grammy Lambys visit, she and Larry slowly develop a bond. A gentle telling creates the story arc as animal characters (dressed as humans) allow readers to identify with the main players while also softening the initial problem. Sheep walking on spindly legs and giraffes singing in church set a lighthearted tone. Still, the idea that Grammy is at first overbearing toward Larry (who is seen in one illustration with calendar in hand counting the days until she leaves) is never in doubt. And, in a final spread, neither is his true affection for her. betty carter (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
How embarrassing! Grammy Lamby is coming to visit, but one little lamb is anything but pleased. Larry is continually rattled by his grandma, what with her secret handshake (which means "I love you"), her flouncy church clothes and loud voice and her extravagant plans for future travel (what if he doesn't want to go?). Warm and appealing acrylic paintings with just the right amount of detail show Larry's quiet distress and Grammy's abundant character as she visits the Lamby home. Grammy is patient and kind despite her eccentricities, and when a summer storm frightens Larry and damages the house, fearless Grammy steps in and helps with comfort and repair. Maybe Grammy isn't so embarrassing after all! How can Larry show her what he feels? Between a new secret handshake and a surprise that Grammy can open on the train, he is certain to find a way. While providing a nice acknowledgement of Larry's feelings, this decidedly un-pedantic selection is replete with affection and gentle humor, from the simple text to the beguiling illustrations, and shows how feelings and perspectives can develop and change. Sister team Kate and M. Sarah Klise collaborated here and share some of their own grandma memories on the sleeve in this paean to embarrassing but wonderful grandmothers everywhere. A special treat for grandchildren and grandmas. (Picture book. 3-7) ]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
There are plenty of books about the fun a grandparent and grandchild can share. This sprightly offering uses a different tack. Larry, a lamb child, doesn't care for his grandmother. He has no interest in the things she likes to do; she can be embarrassing, and he abhors her secret handshake of three squeezes that mean, I love you. Then, on one visit, a summer storm puts a hole in the roof. Grammy not only knows how to fix it, she tells wonderful stories while doing so. Then she and Larry help repair the school and the church. When Grammy leaves, Larry is ready with four squeezes: I love you, too! Kids will respond to the idea that no matter what they're supposed to think, they simply might not care for a particular relative. While the evolution here is dramatic, the idea that relationships can change is well reinforced. The adorable acrylic artwork is sturdy in shape yet precious in detail, and Klise gets maximum emotion from the body language of her characters as their feelings change. There will be an audience for this.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist