LitPick Review
Saturdays with Gramps by Marissa Bader is a story about a boy named Sam and his grandfather. Sam always looks forward to Saturdays because of all the fun activities he and Gramps do together. They play chess, enjoy the sandwiches Gramps prepares, and Gramps even lets him drink root beer - something his mom doesn’t allow! Imagine the joys of Saturday! But week by week, Sam starts to notice that Gramps is getting weaker. It seems like Gramps may be nearing the end of his life. Will Sam be able to cope with that idea? Will he ever feel happy again when that time comes? Read on to follow the story of Sam and how he navigates life, love, and loss.
Opinion:
The story Saturdays with Gramps by Marissa Bader is about coping with grief, acceptance, and love. This book is a wonderful tool for helping children process difficult topics such as the death of a loved one. It’s a tough subject to talk about, but one that is very relatable. Ms. Bader beautifully captures the raw emotions that come with grief. What’s great about the book is that it also explores acceptance, the process of moving on, and the idea of unconditional love. Alongside the story, the illustrations perfectly reflect the different emotions being portrayed. Overall, it’s a powerful and touching story, especially useful when helping children process emotions like grief and loss. For parents, educators, and therapists, this is definitely a book worth keeping on your shelves.
