Meatballs for Grandpa by Jeanette Fazzari Jones is a heartwarming and sensory-rich picture book that beautifully explores family bonds, tradition, and the power of food to bring people together. The story follows young Felicia as she spends special moments with her grandparents, cooking the family’s traditional spaghetti and meatballs recipe. Despite Grandpa's fading memory, the act of cooking together triggers sparks of recognition and joy, making the experience all the more meaningful.

The book is filled with vibrant descriptions of smells, sounds, and flavors that immerse readers in the cooking process, making it feel like they're right there in the kitchen with Felicia, Grandma, and Grandpa. The inclusion of Italian words and a recipe at the end adds an authentic touch, inviting families to recreate the dish together.

The narrative not only highlights the importance of family traditions but also gently addresses the theme of memory loss with love and sensitivity. It's a touching tribute to the power of cooking, connection, and heritage. Meatballs for Grandpa is a delightful read for both children and adults, filled with warmth and a reminder of how food can help us remember and cherish those we love.

A delightful sweet little story that sheds light on what happens when a grandparent suffers from alzheimer's disease.

Felicia's grandpa doesn't always remember her, but that's alright, because, as grandma says, all you need is sound and smell - and taste. By cooking together, they unlock grandpa's memories again, if only for a little while, bringing a smile to his face - and Felicia's, of course.

It was a cute book that travels you without having the story go anywhere but a simple, cozy kitchen. The characters kept saying "I love you" to each other to make sure everyone remembers that, and this was just so warm and wholesome, it makes your heart smile, so to speak.

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

This is a wonderful story. It’s about a granddaughter and her grandpa. Grandpa has dementia and doesn’t always remember things, but grandma reminds her granddaughter that all it takes is the scent or the taste to make everything come flooding back. This book is very sweet, very tender and very loving. It has a message and a lesson but doesn’t forget it’s a story.

*Thank you NetGalley and Two Lions for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*

What a beautiful story that tug at my heartstrings.

A little girl and her grandparents cook together to help her grandfather who struggles with Alzheimer’s. So so so tender and quite an important story to help kids understand better their elders and the aging process.

My heart is so full ❤️

My child and I loved this sweet and tender story about a young girl who's cooking with her grandparents and hoping the familiar taste and smells of their regular meatball cooking afternoon will bring her grandpa back to himself, if only for a bit.

The story was beautifully written, the recipe brought to life through their descriptions, the gorgeous illustrations and the poignantly built anticipation and hope that that grandpa would remember his family, and his grandchild especially. I enjoyed reading this with my kiddo, and then discussing the themes of memory, mental illness, aging, loss and connection which it prompted. It was a very connecting conversation.

We also appreciated the author's note about their own experience and the recipe they shared at the end which we plan to make and compare to our own family recipe.

Thank you to Two Lions and NetGalley for the digital ARC of ‘Meatballs for Grandpa’. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

A super cute book that kids of any age will enjoy. There is nothing like memories of spending time with grandparents, even if there are health struggles. Loved it!

Book 087 of 300 ~ 2024

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I loved this. It made me sad. I think families should read this with their kids to prepare in case someone gets dementia or alzheimers.

You need not be old to get it. I am thankful for books that touch on these hard to discuss topics with empathy and gentleness.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Thank you to Edelweiss, Netgalley and Two Lions Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this picture book for my students. This is an adorable story that talks about what steps it takes to create great meatballs but also what it is like with a family member with Alzheimer's or Dementia in a child-friendly way. I truly think it's one to recommend for sequencing and for a variety of vocabulary words but can be a bit long. Because of these points, I have to give this a 4 out of 5 stars

When I see a picture book with a cover picture like Meatballs for Grandpa, I want to read it to my children. A few days ago, we did just that, and my little girls loved this story. The main character is a little girl, which of course makes it appealing to them, and the description of the food is delightful, too.

I loved Meatballs for Grandpa! The premise of the story is that Grandpa suffers from Alzheimers, although that is not stated explicitly, and Felicia wonders if he has any idea who she is. They connect over making and eating delicious food together. I liked the Italian words sprinkled throughout the story, and the descriptive words that make the food come to life. The love in the family is the best part of the book, though, and all the children who listened to me read this book had questions about Alzheimers after we read it—great conversation starter! All of us liked this story, and I would love to have it on the shelf. The recipe included at the end looks delicious, too!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

I really enjoyed this book. The illustrations were fantastic and the story was heartwarming and engaging.

I shared a review on my Goodreads but cannot see how to share my specific review here.

A heartwarming story about the power of food and family, as you live with a family member with Alzheimer's.

I loved the illustrations in the book. They were colourful yet not overpowering, and the food made me hungry.
I loved that they also incorporated Italian into the story, though my pronunciation isn't very good.

It's a very good book to help children understand the power of food and memory, and that while a family member may not always remember you, it doesn't mean that they don't love you.

Alzheimers is a difficult disease for most people to comprehend, much less a child. This book is a great way to let a child know that a loved one with this disintegrating disease still loves the child, even if the affected loved one can't remember the child for a short time.
Sometimes the familiarity of a taste, smell or activity can trigger memories in people with memory lapse. Hence the tradition of the grand-daughter making meatballs with her grandparents. The narrative demonstrates how to be kind, patient, understanding and loving to those with the disease.
This is such an endearing story about family and how family traditions can bring us back to those we love. I would definitely recommend this book to others and I would buy it for my own children.
Thank you Two Lions Publishing and Jeanette Fazzari Jones for the advanced reader's copy.

There's so much to love about this heartwarming picture book!

Felicia always looks forward to meatball day at her grandparent's house. Her grandfather doesn't always recognizer her anymore, but Grandma and Felicia know that cooking meatballs holds a magic that goes far beyond taste and smell.

The illustrations were the first thing that drew me to this book. They are colorful and stunning! From there, the story stole my heart. This book is precious and would be a wonderful book to read to any children walking through the unimaginable pain and confusion of a having a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer's.

The author's note is not to be missed, and I love that the author included her family's beloved heirloom recipe for meatballs and tomato sauce.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A sweet story about a young girl and her Italian grandparents. Right away the reader notices something is wrong with Grandpa. I love the patience the main character and her grandmother have with Grandpa. A lovely story of what it means to love family and take care of the ones you love.

The use of Italian words and traditions helps enhance the love they have for each other. The illustrations are heartwarming and full of lovely detail that demand a second look at

Thanks to the public for an ARC to read and give an honest review. I would recommend.

F I V E S T A R S!!
I normally don't review children's books but as l've been reading + reviewing my 7 year old has wanted to also do the same, so with his input as well, here's my review for this little book.
Meatballs for Grandpa was such a touching, heartwarming story. Grandpa suffers from a memory loss disease (not depicted as to which) and when his granddaughter comes to visit, he doesn't seem to remember her. But Grandma keeps the spirits high + they make what obviously a staple in their family - spaghetti with meatballs. The ending of this story almost had me in tears as an adult knowing the hardships of loving someone with this type of disease, but to see what happens all because of a little love + spaghetti and meatballs my son was so intrigued and curious if Grandpa would remember and was sooo happy by the ending.
This is one of the best children's stories l've read! And make sure to read the last several pages for what could be a new staple in your household!

This is a wonderful and touching book about a family cooking together, enjoying good times, good smells, and happy memories. Felicia is upset when Grandpa has trouble remembering who she is, but through the familiar act of preparing spaghetti and meatballs, he remembers her special nickname, and, for a while, all is as it used to be.

With lovely illustrations by Jaclyn Sinquett, this multi-generational tale should delight readers of all ages. AND, there's a recipe! Yum!

In MEATBALLS FOR GRANDPA (written by Jeanette Fazzari Jones, illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquet, published by Two Lions), a young girl looks forward to the days she gets to make meatballs and spaghetti with her Grandma for her Grandpa. Grandma always greets her with giant hug, but Grandpa always looks like he doesn’t quite remember her… Nonetheless, the young girl joins her grandma in the kitchen to stir, shake, taste, squish, fry, swirl, and roll the ingredients to make the best meatballs and spaghetti. She had wanted to refer to a recipe but Grandma reminded her that all she needs is taste and smell. Grandpa joins in the cooking too, but will he remember his little “boo-boo doll” when he takes the first bite of the final product?

This is such a tender and heartwarming story about food and the role it plays in tying the connection between a young girl and her grandparents. It is also a heartbreaking story about Alzheimer’s disease, but the author has written about it in such a gentle way that young readers will be able to understand. The illustrations are bright, animated and will make readers feel like they can almost smell and taste the meatballs! The back matter includes a glossary and Grandma’s recipe for meatballs. This book would also make a good text for lessons on visualizing, vocabulary, adjectives, and procedural writing.

MEATBALLS FOR GRANDPA is available today! Thank you NetGalley and Two Lions for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I adore it when books help kids with difficult-to-understand and explaining subjects. Sometimes I feel like I get more out of it than the children! I have an uncle who has dementia, so we as a family are working on making sure he feels cared for, yet has some freedom.

I greatly enjoyed Meatballs for Grandpa

This children’s book is a great way to help explain Dementia/Alzheimers disease to young children who may have loved ones with the disease. It’s such a touching story about a young girl and Grandfather cooking together. I especially loved that the author included a family recipe for meatballs at the end of the story. The illustrations are especially well done. Thank you NetGalley and Two Lions for the ARC of this book.

This was a book that I was unsure about the plot of, which I prefer not to know too much going into Children's Fiction as I feel as though it makes it more magical to experience it as though I am a child reading it, this was a heartwarming story about trying to help a child's grandfather remember through an old recipe.

I was sent this E-Arc on Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review