Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs

Title: Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs
Author: Tomie dePaola
Genre:  Children's
Publication Date: April 25, 2011
Publisher:  Puffin Books
Pages:  32

Rating:  5 out of 5

Amazon Book Blurb: 
  

Tommy is four years old, and he loves visiting the home of his grandmother, Nana Downstairs, and his great-grandmother, Nana Upstairs. But one day Tommy's mother tells him Nana Upstairs won't be there anymore, and Tommy must struggle with saying good-bye to someone he loves.

Review:  This is a classic children’s story about a boy’s relationship with his grandparents. Tomie dePaola based the book on his real grandmother (Nana Downstairs) and great-grandmother (Nana Upstairs). His portrayal of Nana Upstairs was a spot-on description of what many elderly loved ones experience—living with one of their children, spending most of their time in bed, having trouble sitting up in a chair, to name a few. I loved how he took a simple, honest approach to the death of Nana Upstairs. He avoided any playful wording around the issue of losing grandparents, which will help young children understand that, though sad, this is a normal event that many children will experience. He even gave young children a way to remember those they’ve lost by using a falling star to signify a kiss from Nana Upstairs. He left the reader reminiscing about their own grandparents and feeling a kinship with what Tomie went through.

Tomie dePaola is also a very talented illustrator and does most of his own books. I’ve always loved how his characters have a roundness to their features that makes them so very charming. The old women usually remind me of the stereotypical Mrs. Claus, and this book holds true to that style. The version I checked out from the public library is a later edition, which dePaola explains was a change from the originally published work of 1973. The pictures are more vibrant and full of texture and detail than the original, enough to keep my three year old entertained through the whole book! It’s definitely a go-to book to read to children of any age who have experienced loss.