My Pop Pop and Me is by Irene Smalls. It is a good book for Father’s or Grandparent’s Day. A young boy and his grandfather, Pop Pop, bake a lemon cake.

My Pop Pop and Me begins with the pair preparing the kitchen and themselves to bake the cake. They wash their hands. They gather the utensils. The nameless boy squeezes the lemons and adds the ingredients. Pop Pop gently supervises the baking process. The picture book ends with a beautiful, delicious lemon cake.

Cathy Ann Johnson’s illustrations are as warm as the kitchen oven. She uses watercolors to create the paintings. Pop Pop and the little boy’s smiles are as bright as the kitchen they restore to order. Pop Pop has a white mustache and the boy wears a white baker’s hat. The boy is proud to wear his grandfather’s hat. Her pictures are wonderful visual clues to Irene Smalls’ text. Look at the pair on the picture book's cover.

Ms. Smalls writes short simple sentences. My Pop Pop and Me is a book of rhyming verse. Use the rhyming words to teach children to recognize the common ending sounds. Children who are aware of the sounds of spoken language quickly learn to read. The picture book is for children four-years-old and older. The book is easy for six-years-old to read on their own.

Increase a child’s knowledge of rhyming words by playing games. Play word games with the child. Use the child’s name in the game. Invite the child to give other words that rhyme. My Pop Pop and Me has many examples.




BellaOnline Children’s Books has books for Father’s Day. Click to read an online summary for other Father’s Day books.

Infants and Toddlers Board Books
Irene Smalls Books

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