Grandma Summer

Arriving for a vacation at a well-seasoned cottage on the Oregon shore, Ben is uneasy about being in Grandma's custody. Grandma lights a fire inside an old stove (""That's not safe, Grandma"") and leads a reluctant Ben into the surf (""No, I don't want to float across the ocean to Japan""). Children may not want to identify with the stodgy Ben, but Jessup (What's Alice Up To?) paints an affectionate, even intriguing portrait of redheaded Grandma. She is slightly eccentric in appearance (she favors contrasting prints and purple eye shadow), but is self-contained and confident, and kids will want to know what she will do next. Acting as a catalyst (""The beach! We've been here all morning and we haven't been to the beach yet!""), she keeps the events moving at a bracing clip. Sketchy art keeps pace with the high energy of the narrative, and the settings, especially the ramshackle cottage, are inviting. A skillful integration of full-scale illustrations and dropped-in vignettes heightens the narrative tension. With just a splash of sentiment, this is refreshing summer fare. Ages 3-8. (June)