A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 94

Picture Book: Banjo Granny

Author: Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Illustrator: Barry Root

Summary: This picture book is a delightful tall tale. A banjo-playing granny is determined to see her grandbaby, Owen. She has heard he especially wiggles to bluegrass music. Even rivers, mountains, and deserts won’t deter her to play bluegrass for him in person. He hears from the birds that she’s coming so he patiently awaits her while she uses her magical music to overcome the many obstacles and make her way to her youngest fan.  

Hanna’s Comments: This book is a hoot! All children should have a granny who loves them so. See the music and lyrics to Owen’s Song in the front of the book, and in the back find the author’s note about the beginnings of bluegrass music.

Publisher & Date of Publication: HMH, 2006

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, action, ancestors/patriarchs & matriarchs, art, babies/children, belonging, bonds/connections, call/calling/vocation, challenges, choir/music/singing/songs, commitment, desert, exile/separation, family, gifts/giftedness/talents, grandparents, heroes, journeys/pilgrimages/migration/quests, joy, land/mountains, love, miracles, mission, obstacles, passion, perseverance, presence, problems/problems solving, purpose, sharing, steadfastness, travel, waiting, water, wilderness

Scripture Connections: the Israelites escape Egypt through sea, desert, & mountains (Book of Exodus); nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book in a homeschool/religious school literature lesson on tall tales. Then talk about your religious beliefs regarding the power of love.