Is a book a sensitive way to expose children to death?

Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket List

By Jenny Pearson @J_C_Pearson

Illustrated by David O’Connell @davidoconnell

Published by Usborne Publishing @Usborne

Published: 3rd February 2022

ISBN: 978 1 4749 7406 6 £6.99

First Line: If Dad had know what would happen by giving me his name, he wouldn’t have called me Frank.

Genre: Comedy, Adventure

Age: 8+

What’s it all about? This story of Frank, a young boy (I’ll have to be quite explicit here as all the men in the family are called Frank!), and his relationship with his family (mum, dad and grandpa) is sweet, revealing and sad but shows great depth, humanity and a super learning curve for young readers. Suddenly, Frank is given loads of money by a deceased grandma he never new, a grandpa to look after and a dad whose in a lot of trouble from loan sharks of various kinds. The humour is deadpan, and I really like how it links together – jokes come back again and again. He decides to take his grandpa on lots of adventures, which always go a bit wrong – dragging an old lady into a hot air balloon and dunking her in a pond etc…The funniest bit for me comes at the beginning when grandpa wakes up to find his grandson eating biscuit of his tummy.

Why should I read it? I have to begin by saying that I was not excited to read this book, as the title made me think it was going to be one of those ‘funny fart joke’ books for some reason, with no depth, which although great for 7+ doesn’t personally give me a sense of enjoyment. HOWEVER, I was so wrong.The characters are great- strange quirks, but loveable, and the story has a great arc leading to a good climax at the end where the characters join together and the story is resolved satisfactorily. The writing reminds me a lot of Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson in style or Holes by Louis Sachar. Wonderful read! 

Thanks to the UKLA for my copy.