Grandad's Camper: A picture book for children that celebrates LGBTQIA+ families

Product Information

Readers are introduced to a young, brown-skinned, curly-haired protagonist on a visit to their White grandfather's cottage.

Every summer, the narrator of this heart-warming tale goes to stay with her grandad in his pretty old cottage by the sea.

It's so important that little ones grow up and see their type of family set-up reflected in the books you share with them. While there, the protagonist, who narrates, and their grandfather play the usual games and do the usual activities, but Grandad also tells stories about how he and Gramps, a man of color who is now deceased, met and fell in love while traveling in an old VW microbus. This poignant tale acknowledges the sadness of losing a loved one, but also celebrates the pleasure of remembering those who have touched our lives. Roo loves staying with her grandfather in his cottage by the sea and enjoys listening to his wonderful stories.

Before they were Grandad and Gramps, two young men, waving a rainbow flag from their pink VW bus, were a romantic couple, traveling the world-or at least Europe-together, camping under the stars. They will practice writing in the past progressive by creating captions for the photo album and develop their skill at writing questions in role as the little girl by interviewing Grandad about his campervan adventures. They will then send a postcard home from Grandad and Gramps on their beach adventure before planning, drafting and editing a sequel for the book where Grandad and the little girl head off on their own campervan adventure.So, their amazing granddaughter comes up with a clever plan to fix up the old camper and get Grandad excited to explore again. Harry Woodgate (they/them) is a multi-award-winning author and illustrator, whose debut picture book Grandad’s Camper won the British Book Awards Nibbie for Children's Illustrated Book of the Year and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, was shortlisted for the Polari Prize, and named as an ALA Stonewall Honor Book.

This beautiful picture book honors love and reminds us not only to remember those we have lost, but to celebrate them. A touching tale about a girl’s relationship with her grandfather, which also evokes the wildness and beauty of the coast. Still, there is a wholesome gentility to every page, of enjoying every minute, even in memory, of growing sweet cherries in the garden, and of filling a home with mementos and stories. Woodgate's explosively colorful scenes center most of the book on the men, with snapshot after snapshot of their loving life together. This debut picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Harry Woodgate won the British Book Awards Nibbie for Children's Illustrated Book of the Year and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, was shortlisted for the Polari Prize, and named as an ALA Stonewall Honor Book.This is a quiet story that speaks volumes, and astute educators and storytellers will be able to use the book in both intimate storytimes and with larger groups. Her favourite pastime, however, is to snuggle up with Grandad while he shares tales of his past adventures with Gramps. Waterstones Children’s Book Award Winner and British Book Awards Nibbies Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year 2023! An effective tool for teaching empathy, and the intergenerational bond at the story's center is a heartstrings puller.