Product Reviews

Publisher: Short Books

What's it all about? The Good Granny Guide, written by granny-to-four Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall (Hugh's mother), is a guide for grandparents, specifically grandmothers but also grandfathers. It contains much practical advice, from recipes for biscuits and playdough to how to make a bow and arrow. It also covers more 'political' issues, such as how to handle parents' divorce, or a death in the family, and how not to tread on the daughter-in-law's toes. Sections covered by the book include, Relationships, Getting about, What shall we do today?, Food, Bedtime, Discipline and When things go wrong.

Presentation It is a friendly, chunky hardback with some black-and-white sketch illustrations and a cartoon of a granny clinging onto a runaway buggy on the cover. The text is easy to read and broken down into small chunks. There are boxed sections containing quotes from grandparents (as well as parents).

Tone and target audience The book is chatty, written as if talking to a friend, and aimed primarily at grannies who are involved in the day-to-day care of their grandchildren. However, parents would also find it interesting, as I did, as it contains quotes from grandparents (as well as parents), which offers an insight into their views on childrearing and their role in it.

Good points The chatty style, practical advice and tips. The practical advice, e.g. take an old cloth to the playground if it's been raining, is often something that parents would know, but that grandparents might have forgotten.

Bad points I had expected more advice on the grandparent/parent relationship and how these can go wrong or be improved on.

Granny Valerie Simmons' review! This book is a valuable and interesting read for those of us whose childcare skills might be a bit rusty! It is full of useful hints as to how to deal with tricky situations, such as the terrible two tantrums. Also the book reminds grandparents that the child's parents need support, not criticism, and that rearing a happy child is a very difficult, demanding job.

The practical hints and tips, such as what to do on a rainy day, are very helpful. With the author's experience of four lively grandchildren, she certainly has wisdom to pass on to help the sometimes puzzled and uncertain grandparent.

I particularly liked the comments from mums and grannies that break up the main text, making it easy and entertaining to read. A good present for new grandparents!

Best Feature: Quotes from parents and grannies. Worst Feature: None really. Perhaps more general advice on managing the grandparent/parent relationship. Verdict: An entertaining and reassuring guide for grandparents, which should also be of interest to parents.

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