Grandad's Camper

 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Woodgate, H. (2021). GRANDAD’S CAMPER.  Little Bee Books.  ISBN: 978-1-49981-193-3

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This picture book tells the story of the grandchild who hears stories about Grandad and Gramp’s adventures in the camper. She convinces her grandad to fix up the camper to continue adventures together. 

 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In Grandad’s Camper, the story is a recount from Grandad about how he met Gramps and their adventures in their camper when they were younger. The characters are multicultural, showing many skin tones and hair textures and colors as well. 

The setting is twofold: the landscape of traveling in the van internationally, and then Grandad’s house. Grandad and Gramps are shown visiting beaches, cities, towns, and countryside. At Grandad’s house, there is a large garden and shed where the van is kept. At the end of the story the van is seen heading to the beach for more adventures. 

There are numerous references to the LGBTQIA+ culture in Grandad’s Camper. Beginning with the rainbow flag, which is a common symbol, it is showcased throughout the book. Grandad’s and Gramp’s same sex relationship is showcased in a positive light spanning the many years they were together. Grandad wears an upside down pink triangle shirt which is a symbol of being gay in Nazi Germany. 

The illustrations in this book showcase the LGBTQIA+ culture in a meaningful way. They spotlight love and acceptance while educating readers that same sex couples have been around for a long time. There are many pictures in the home of Grandad and Gramps together. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• Kirkus Reviews starred, 03/15/21

• Publishers Weekly, 04/26/21

• School Library Journal starred, 06/01/21

• Stonewall Honor Book, 2022

Full-Text Reviews

Kirkus Reviews starred (March 15, 2021)

This road trip has been a lifetime in the making. Readers are introduced to a young, brown-skinned, curly-haired protagonist on a visit to their White grandfather’s cottage. While there, the protagonist, who narrates, and their grandfather play the usual games and do the usual activities, but Grandad also tells stories about how he and Gramps, a man of color who is now deceased, met and fell in love while traveling in an old VW microbus. Inspired by these tales, the narrator encourages Grandad to fix up the van, and the two take it for a road trip to the beach. This is a quiet story that speaks volumes, and astute educators and storytellers will be able to use the book in both intimate storytimes and with larger groups. Caregivers, especially older ones, may see this book as an opportunity to talk about departed loved ones and introduce their happy memories to a younger generation—many a family will find themselves pulling out photo albums to relate their own origin stories. The artwork is enticing and rich, and readers will be happy to pore over the pages studying details like Grandad’s friendly dog and the textured backgrounds as they read and reread the story. This book deserves pride of place on any bookshelf, be it in a library, school, or home. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) As warm and friendly as a kind grandparent. (Picture book. 4-8)

• 5. CONNECTIONS

Related Books:

Woodgate, H. (2023). GRANDADS PRIDE. Little Bee Books. ISBN: 978-1-49981-461-3

Yum, H. (2021). GRANDPA ACROSS THE OCEAN. Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-1-41974-225-5

Activities:

Allow students time to create identity self-portraits in the medium of their choice (collage, watercolor, colored pencil, etc.). Each portrait should include symbols in the background representing their identity, diversity, anti-bias, social justice, values or beliefs. For example, a student whose family is from Puerto Rico might include a Puerto Rican flag in her portrait, or a student who values peace and nonviolence could add a peace sign in his portrait background. Source:https://www.learningforjustice.org/classroom-resources/student-tasks/do-something/identity-selfportraits

Author study on Harry Woodgate