Young children
Ten-year-old Florence dreams of meeting her estranged father. While her mother is in hospital, Florence stays with Grandpa Silas who reads her stories by the fire and when the old, grandfather clock strikes five, she loves to prepare his tea.
Florence’s magical journey, to meet her father and his other family, begins with a noise in the middle of the night and Jack-in-the-Green’s appearance, visible only to her. Florence’s father invites her to a family day out on a canal barge. But her excitement turns to confusion and feelings of disloyalty to her mother, and she hides the invitation. Reassured by her mother, she joins the family trip and recognises her stepsister, Laila, as the Indian girl she met at the playground. She also meets her half-brother, Krish and stepmother, Maryam.
Tidying the shop, Florence finds an old photo of a young girl being read to by an old man. Jack-in-the-Green is in the photo and Grandpa says Florence can put the picture in her room above the shop, near the old, coloured glass lamp. But will her magical friend stay, or will he return to his home in Ireland?
Author’s Note:
Florence’s story is purposely devoid of references to the media. The story is reminiscent of timeless, children's classics, though set in the present day. My intention was to create a child’s reading book that embraced, friendship, empathy, cultural differences and respect, all with a touch of magical realism, without media intrusion. Family values are also a central theme and despite Florence’s estrangement from her father, a strong bond with both Grandpa Silas and her mother, carry her though to a happy conclusion.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
Grandpa's Magical Shop - It is a really good story and it has lots of description. I thought that it was very cosy. The description of Florence and Silas's relationship was heart-warming and the introduction of Krish, Chris, Laila and Maryam was added drama and perspective. We loved it!!!
The story of Florence and her exciting world made our hearts whimper with joy. The adventure takes our minds to a place that we can really see through the description. The description of Silas and Florence's relationship was heart-warming and the introduction of Florence's other family adds drama and perspective. The way Jack appeared really energised the way Daddy was reading, when Jack popped out of the scent bottle. We really enjoyed reading the book - Yay!!!
‘Grandpa’s Magical Shop’ is a lovely story for children aged 7 to 9. It’s a refreshing escape from the usual talk of gadgets and social media, drawing readers into a cozy world of imagination and magic. Heather Nicholls has crafted a story that feels both diverse and relevant to today’s world, yet still traditional and nostalgic.
This is a lovely book which captured me from the first page, beautiful descriptive writing and super illustrations. It’s a modern story, which sensitively covers themes and issues that children face when growing up but still feels like a children’s classic. Silas is a warm and familiar character and I immediately felt at home in his dusty shop full of hidden treasures.
This is a beautifully written book, with a touch of magic. The characters are brought to life so well that it's impossible not to fall in love with Grandpa! The themes of friendship and family run through the story, making it a perfect book to share and read aloud. I am looking forward to introducing it to my Year 5 class in September.
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