Where has grandad gone?

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

LA TOPERA EDITORIAL

Title WHERE HAS GRANDAD GONE? ON HA ANAT, L’AVI?

Author Alaine Agirre | Maite Gurrutxaga Genre Children and Youth Year of publication 2021 Number of editions 1

Pages 40 ISBN 978-84-30119-79-0 Spanish retail price 13.50 €

Author’s biography: Alaine Agirre Garmendia was born in 1990 in Bermeo, Basque Country, Spain. After graduating in Physics and Basque Studies, she began her career in literature. For Alaine, literature is a basic need rather than a hobby. Most of her books are aimed at children and young people. She won the Lazarillo award for Martín, the Euskadi de Plata award for X is dead (X hil da) and the Lizardi award for This is not a zoo (Hau ez da zoo bat!).

Synopsis: “I don’t understand it one bit when Grandma says that Grandpa is worn out after so many years. One day at school we learned that stones wear out over time because of erosion. But Grandpa isn’t a stone. Or is he? Sometimes it seems that way, like when he sleeps, because he doesn’t even move a millimeter”. The winner of the Lazarillo 2015 award for best picture book returns with this tender, moving story about the passage of time, old age and death from a child’s perspective. A unique story to encourage realistic, warm and sincere conversations with young readers about the loss of a loved one.

Publisher: La Topera Editorial La Topera Editorial was born out of our desire to introduce new authors to expand the world of fiction for children and young people. We like to have time to enjoy the editing process so we choose to publish a small number of carefully selected books. All our production is carried out locally.

Publishing rights available from: La Topera Editorial - CIF G65991374 García Tejado 23-27, Salamanca, Salamanca www.latoperaeditorial.com Contact: Carles Manrique [info@latoperaeditorial.com] Phone: (+34) 638 156 045