Old to Joy

When Joy goes to visit Grandmama, she notices how antiquated things are. Her house seems ancient, and the chairs are “rickety-rockety” and the porch “crickety-crockety.” It all seems so peculiar and nonsensical to her. “I don’t know how come old people like old things anyways,” she says to Grandmama. Together, they gaze up at the giant tree branches that nearly touch the sky and wash dishes the way they did back in the olden days: by hand. As the day draws on, Joy’s interest in all the things her grandmother has and does grows exponentially, and she begins to see “old things” through a new lens.

This is a sweet book that encapsulates the love between a grandmother and a grandchild and the relationship they share. It sends a gentle message as well: beauty can be found in simplicity and the way life once was. Additionally, the author does a brilliant job of including vernacular that older generations used and of illuminating Joy’s unfamiliarity with it. The vibrant hues of the illustrations and their realistic quality compliment the text and bring the story to life. Young children ages five to nine will find this not only heartening but also a bit humorous.