Just like Grandpa Jazz

 

Tarah.L.Gear, illus. Mirna Imamovic
Owlet Press
Age 5-7

Grandpa Jazz is getting ready to go to the airport to visit the tropical island where he was born. His grandson Frank helps him pack and finds some interesting things in Grandpa’s suitcase, each prompting a recollection of island life. Grandpa is a master storyteller; even the journey to the airport becomes an imaginary adventure. Although these are mostly fond memories, Grandpa also recollects the way he was treated on board ship, and on arrival in the UK.

This is a warm and appealing story with a satisfying ending about family love, the importance of sharing stories particularly within the richness of a mixed family heritage and the special connections stories make between generations as they share memories and build more together. The illustrations are delightful with lots to think and talk about. There are additional stories waiting to be imagined by young readers, particularly of the fun Frank and Grandpa have together at the end of the story.

Watch as the author introduces the book here

Share the story

Read aloud
As you read the story aloud to your child allow time to look at the illustrations and talk about what is happening.

Join in
On a subsequent reading you could point out the dialogue and encourage your child to read some of this themselves.

Looking back just at the illustrations, suggest your child tells you the story prompted by the pictures on each spread.

Talk about the story
◼︎Talk about what mum meant when she said, ‘You two are just the same!’
◼︎How might Grandpa Jazz have felt when segregated on board ship because of his skin colour, or when made to change his name.
◼︎How might Frank have felt when he found out he was going on holiday with Grandpa?
◼︎Talk about migration and why people decide to move from one country to another. See the links below (in ‘Find out More’) to information about the Windrush generation.

Things to make and do

Write a diary
Look at the illustrations at the back of the book. Your child could imagine they are Frank and write his diary for one day in his holiday. This is more fun if you have a special book to write it in. See here for how to make a small, folded book.

Write a postcard
Look back at the last few pages of the story. Write an imaginary postcard from Frank to his mum telling her what you have been doing with Grandpa. Add a picture to show one of the scenes Frank may have seen.

Draw a memory
Draw a thought bubble for your child on a large piece of paper. Encourage them to draw a favourite memory of their own inside the bubble. Your child could draw several of these, cut them out and arrange them on a large sheet of paper and talk about them together.

Collect stories
Speak to older members of the family and collect their stories. Perhaps this could be a set of recordings of conversations, something very special to keep.

Make a memory box
Have a look at home together and choose some objects which remind your child of places you have been to together, things you have done or people who are important in your child’s life. Talk about them as you pack them in a shoebox of memories. Your child might like to decorate the outside of the box.

Look at a world map or globe
Most of the story is set on the island of Mauritius. See if you can find it on a map or globe. Do any members of your family have links with other countries or other parts of the UK? If so, try to find the places you have links with on a UK or World map.

Find out more

Read a Q and A with the author:  https://fcbg.org.uk/qa-with-tarah-l-gear/

Read another book by Tarah L. Gear: The Brownest Mouse in Town illus. Christine Cuddihy

Read another book illustrated by Mirna Imamovic: Where Bjorn Belongs written by Samuel Langley Swain.

Find out more about the Windrush generation https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/43793769