by Jodie Lancet-Grant
illustrated by Rose Gerrard
 
“When most people think of grannies, Archie’s …aren’t what come to mind”!
 
A huge welcome to Archie’s Grandma Jo and Nana Sue. Fantastically unconventional and outrageous for several reasons, their relationship isn’t one of them. 
 
This is how Archie describes stepping out in public with his grandmas, “he’d catch people staring or whispering. He didn’t like how that made him feel, but it didn’t bother his grans”. Grandma Jo declares, “Not everybody has the imagination to understand just how fabulous we are”.  And, in a trademark Lancet-Grant move, the nanas’ non-conformity has nothing to do with them holding hands in public and everything to do with their hyper visibility which includes tinted glasses, costume jewellery, loud patterned clothes and an all-round-fabulousness. When the nanas make the horrible discovery that the town’s new art gallery is the worst of possible things –DRAB- their unconventionality also extends in to some interesting night-time, criminal, activity… 
 
A fun story in which individuality and creativity triumph. A very flamboyant addition to ‘incidental’ representations of LGBTQ+ folk and one which also comes, refreshingly, in the form of ‘older’ adults, challenging plenty of ageist stereotypes along the way. 
 
‘The book asks the right questions- why are people who step outside of convention threatening and why are we, in turn, afraid to embrace the unconventional even when it appeals to us? Full marks there -and for the outfits which are fabulous’ (Mark Jennett, Equalities Trainer/Consultant, LL reviewer). [Interracial family; background characters with range of skin tones; secondary wheelchair user character]. Age 4-7, Paperback 29pp
 
Themes: Diverse Families   Themes: LGBTQ+