BOOK REVIEW WHERE HAS GRANDAD GONE? Author: Alaine Agirre | Maite Gurrutxaga From the reader report by: Yuko Wada The theme of the ‘ocean’ runs through this story like a basso continuo. The pun-loving grandpa says implausibly that he can see the ocean from his inland window, for example, while his ashes are later scattered in the seas around a island of fond memories. Maite Gurrutxaga’s illustrations are filled with fish, ships and wave patterns, with the ocean a constant presence, even when not mentioned in the text. The work resounds with a sense of fun. The start of each chapter is decorated with fish leaping into a beret, a traditional hat from Spain’s Basque region, with the number of fish corresponding to the chapter number, for example. This kind of device will surely delight children when they notice it. Of course, this is a story about the loving relationship between a grandpa and his grandson and how they deal with changes in the grandfather’s life. The book tackles sad, painful topics like dementia and death, but their humorous exchanges and the grandson’s straightforward responses means the book strikes a gentle, kind tone overall without getting too dark. The love between grandparents and grandchildren is common to all nations, while the ageing and death of loved ones is something we all have to face, so I think this book will find an audience in Japan too. We are still in the middle of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis too, so there are many families where grandparents are still not able to meet their grandkids. This is a book filled with warmth that will enchant children and adults alike.
PUBLISHED IN NEW SPANISH BOOKS JP
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