Grandaddy and Janetta

Griffith follows up Georgia Music and Grandaddy's Place with this equally affecting account of Janetta's first visit to her grandfather's farm in a whole year. The youngster is worried that things won't be the same, or that Grandaddy won't recognize her when she steps off the train. Nothing has changed one iota, of course, including Grandaddy's easy manner and winning sense of humor. Six short chapters present thoroughly endearing vignettes of Janetta's visit, which Stevenson expertly illustrates with his trademark wispy watercolor and black-pen art. The dialogue between the girl and her grandfather is at once realistic and disarming, as Janetta listens to his tall tale about riding his mule across the entire U.S. in a single day, dances under the stars to the music of his mouth organ and learns that she can bring one of his cat's newborn kittens home with her. Kudos to Griffith and Stevenson for another poignant collaboration. Ages 5-up. (May)