I've Never Met My Grandpa
What’s inside...
A realistic story of a child's curiosity about death and lost loved ones. This sweet and poignant story paints a picture of a little girl's curiosity to know her grandfather, who died before she was born. What was he like? Will she ever be able to meet him? She starts off on her own discovery journey, gathering stories and memories, finding Grandpa's old things and trying out some of his favorites. As she pieces it all together, she realizes that maybe she doesn't have to meet her grandpa to really know him after all. Based on her own loss and parenting experience, debut author Shannon Zigmund has crafted a touching, timeless, and accessible tale of how a young child can come to know a loved one they've never met. Shared stories, memorabilia, traditions, and daydreaming weave together to create the fabric of a family member who is gone but certainly not forgotten. Readers everywhere can relate to the experience of both grief and love, and of realizing that we each hold pieces of one another in our hearts and lived lives.
Age
3-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the character feels about not meeting their grandpa? Can you relate to their feelings?
What are some ways the character imagines their grandpa? What would you imagine if you were in their place?
Why is it important to know about our family members, even if we haven't met them?
How does the character learn about their grandpa, and what does that teach us about learning from others?
If you could ask their grandpa one question, what would it be and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use empathetic listening to reflect your child's feelings and thoughts about the characters.
Encourage your child to draw a picture of their imaginary grandpa inspired by the character’s descriptions.
Discuss your family tree and share stories of relatives your child may not have met, highlighting the importance of family legacy.
Prompt imagination by asking your child to think of adventures they could have if their grandpa was with them.
Relate personal experiences or family anecdotes that align with the theme to make the discussion more engaging and relatable.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of family connections
Explanation: Through the story of a child who has never met their grandfather, the book explores the theme of building bonds and cherishing relationships within the family, even when separated by distance or circumstance.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value and maintain relationships with family members who are far away, through communication such as letters, calls, or online chats.
Example Lesson: Understanding and empathy
Explanation: The protagonist's curiosity about their grandpa helps them understand different perspectives and familial histories, fostering empathy.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to ask questions about their own family histories, promoting a deeper understanding and empathy towards their own relatives and their diverse experiences.
Example Lesson: Imagination and curiosity
Explanation: The child imagines what it would be like to meet their grandpa, which showcases the power of imagination and curiosity in understanding the world.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to use their imagination to explore unknown aspects of their world and to engage creatively in problem-solving.
Example Lesson: Coping with absence
Explanation: The book addresses the emotions of missing a family member who is not present, providing a platform to discuss absence and coping mechanisms.
Real-World Application: Children can learn strategies to deal with their feelings of missing someone, such as talking about their feelings, keeping mementos, or creating drawings about the person.