Miigweetch NetGalley and Charlesbridge for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is a children’s book centering around Lola, her mommy, and Lola’s Nana-Bibi (grandmother). Nana-Bibi is coming to visit and there’s lots to do to get ready, and more fun to be had once Nana-Bibbi arrives! The text of the book is complex enough that toddlers and preschoolers will recognize this as a step up from board books, yet it’s simple and short enough that they’re not likely to lose interest during the story. It would work well for read-aloud.

Lola and her family embody relationships I hope to see in my own house, and this is an excellent “grandparent’ story. I especially liked the line “Lola has Mommy, and Mommy has Nana-Bibi” because it’s elegant in its simplicity and representation of the circle of life. I like that Lola is Black and her family is shown doing things representative of their culture, like Nana-Bidi braiding Mommy’s hair and Mommy braiding Lola’s hair (and Lola braiding her baby doll’s hair!)

Beardshaw’s acrylic illustrations are warm, accessible, and diverse. The pictures make a beautiful complement to the text and give excellent representation to Lola and her family. I’m a big fan of stories featuring BIPOC characters and recommend this book for any preschool and elementary library. It would also likely be well received by children who have a close relationship with a grandmother or older female relative.