Introduction

Kim Rogers shares Just Like Grandma, a story about wanting, more than anything, to be just like the special elder in your life. 

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Just Like Grandma by Kim Rogers; illustrated by Julie Flett.

Page Length: 32 pages

Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3

In this lyrical picture book by Kim Rogers (Wichita), with illustrations by Boston Globe-Horn Book Honoree Julie Flett (Cree-Métis), Becca watches her grandma create, play, and dance--and she knows that she wants to be just like Grandma.

Becca loves spending time with Grandma. Every time Becca says, "Let me try," Grandma shows her how to make something beautiful.

Whether they are beading moccasins, dancing like the most beautiful butterflies, or practicing basketball together, Becca knows that, more than anything, she wants to be just like Grandma.

And as the two share their favorite activities, Becca discovers something surprising about Grandma.

NOTABLE QUOTES:

(5:00) “I wanted to write a story about the beautiful relationship that grandchildren and grandparents have, specifically a granddaughter with her grandmother.”

(6:04)  “Our elders are so full of life and joy and experience and they keep doing things, you know, later and later in life.”

(7:39)  “So many of us, no matter what our family background is, if we're Native or non-Native, when we get together to have a meal, it's a big deal and it's how we show one another love and we fellowship together.”

(11:18) “One thing about elders and my Wichita culture is we hold them in such high esteem, but, and I'm trying not to cry here telling you this story, but they also hold children in high esteem. And my grandfather held me in such high esteem, and so it's just so touching for me to think about.”

(12:39) “If you're a reader and you're a kid and you think you wanna be a writer someday, the cool thing about being a writer is you don't have to sit down and just write continuously. You need to go out into the world and experience it.”

(15:58) “A child is in the sunrise phase of their life, and an elder is in the sunset phase of their life.”

(16:56) “Find your joy. Find the beautiful things in life that you want to do, and go and do them. And you may just inspire someone like your mom or your dad, or your aunt or uncle, big brother, little sister. You just never know. Just go out there and do the things that you “

ADDITIONAL LINKS:

• Kim Rogers Website - kimrogerswriter.com

• Purchase the Book - Just Like Grandma

TALK ABOUT THE EPISODE:

1. Who is a special elder in your life, whether a grandmother or grandfather, parent, or community member? What makes this individual special to you?

2. What is something you have learned from an elder in your life?  What is something you have taught an elder?

3. What does it feel like to think of this special elder in your life? What senses light up as you think of them? Is there something particular you see in your mind? Smell? Feel? Or, perhaps, taste or remember tasting?

4. Watch a sunrise or sunset this week. What do you notice? How does it change over time? How does it make you feel? 

CREDITS:

This podcast episode of The Children’s Book Podcast was written, edited, and produced by Matthew Winner. For a full transcript of this episode, visit matthewcwinner.com. 

Write to me or send me a message at matthewmakespods@gmail.com. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

Podcast hosting by Libsyn. 

We are a proud member of Kids Listen, the best place to discover the best in kids podcasts. Learn more at kidslisten.org.DISCLAIMER: Bookshop.org affiliate links provided for any book titles mentioned in the episode. Bookshop.org support independent bookstores and also shares a small percentage of any sales made through this podcast back to me, which helps to fund production of this show.