Making Grizzle Grow
“Later! It’s always later,” yells Emily as she stomps outside and slams the door shut. Dad promised they’d make snow animals, but his work always seems to come first. This scenario may seem familiar to many parents.
Emily, angry at her dad’s rejection, decides she doesn’t need him and vows to make a better snow animal by herself. Thus is born the dinosaur named Grizzle who loves double-pepperoni pizza. But as Grizzle grows he demands more food and Emily finds it difficult to please him. When Grizzle wants to eat Emily’s dad she realizes that no matter how mad she gets, she still loves her dad.
Canadian Rachna Gilmore is the mother of two children and author of more than eighteen children’s and young adult books. Awards for her work include Canada’s critically acclaimed Governor General Award, the Downey Book Award, and the Jane Adams Children’s Book Award Honor. Leslie Elizabeth Watts has been honored with the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, and is a recipient of an Honorable Mention in ForeWord’s Book of the Year Awards.
Her work in this book is rendered in acrylics, using vibrant primary and secondary colors. The graphics expertly capture the look and feel of a cold snowy day. The background colors in each scene are muted so that attention is drawn to the foreground. This is a lovely story about anger, rejection, forgiveness, and unconditional love.
Parents who have limited time to spend with their children will understand Emily’s frustration. Children who have busy parents will identify with Emily as she demonstrates how to express anger in a healthy and creative way.
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
