Hey Grandude!

Book name: Hey Grandude!
Author: Paul McCartney
Illustrated by: Kathryn Durst
Publication date: 2019
Publisher: Random House Kids
Adventure story
US cost - $17.99
ISBN 978-0-525-64867-3
Page count: 30

Review by: Allen Klingelhoets

“Hey Grandude” is a children’s story. The story is wrote by Paul McCartney. Paul is best known as singer with The Beatles. He also was solo singing artist with Wings and other world renowned singing artists like Michael Jackson. Paul has received eighteen Grammy’s and in 1987 was knighted by her Majesty the Queen for his services to music. Paul is a dedicated philanthropist, passionately advocating for many causes, including animal rights and environmental issues. He’s also a very proud grandfather.

The front cover says this about “Grandude”

Meet Grandude- an intrepid explorer with some amazing tricks up his sleeve....With his magic compass, Grandude whisks his four grandchildren away on whirlwind adventures. Join them as they ride flying fish, dodge stampedes, and escape avalanches!

A magical rollercoaster ride for the whole family from beloved music legend Paul McCartney, taking readers around the world and back in time for bed! The story is brought to life with glorious illustrations from artist Kathryn Durst.

End cover quote.

The story starts out with postcard to readers of story.

Quote

Dear Reader,

My name is Edward Marshall Sr. I have four grandchildren. I call them Chillers and they call me Grandude. I live in a very normal house on a very normal street, but when the Chillers come to stay, we go on adventures that are far from normal! Sometimes that get out of hand.... But everything works out in the end. Come and join us for an adventure!

Yours sincerely,

Grandude

end quote

The setting starts at present time period with grandkids Lucy and Tom and Em and Bob. I think kids ranged from about two to ten years old. They were visiting Grandude for weekend. The weather was gray and rainy. The kids were bored in house. Grandude came into room and cheered kids up with pile of postcards. The kids got excited and wished they were at some of scenic locations on postcards. One such place was beach place with palm trees. There were other locations like postcard with a cowboy on horse riding through area like Utah or Arizona remote area. Grandude could use his magic compass and place over postcard. The compass needle would spin, letting the magic begin. The Chillers and Grandude would be teleported to location on postcard. There were always unforeseen things like little crabs attempting to bite group on beach. A buffalo stampede when they went to old west almost crushing Tom. He was lucky Grandude was able to lassoed him before being run over by buffalo. Tom was hauled back on Grandudes horse and the other children on own individual horses and rode very fast away from buffalo stampede. The group had several other spirited adventures with compass and other postcards. The chillers got to ride flying fish back on beach area. They escaped an avalanche in own scene from post card. The children thought was going to be just a wonderful day in valley of mountains. It seemed like always danger after bit of enjoyment. The postcards never showed stampedes or avalanches. There was even more magic as kids and Grandude escaped avalanche by using compass magic to ride a flying Swiss cow. The story was very imaginative. The chillers were not bored liked when in Grandudes house earlier in the day. The children grew sleepy after adventure in mountain area post card. Grandude took out a postcard with image of his house. He said the magic words:

Magic compass – one more spin, it’s time for bedtime to begin!

Zing, bang, sizzle was sound made when went to each location.

They were transported back home. The kids were soon in bed. It was clear to me that Grandude was very adventurous person. I wonder where he got magic compass?

The book made me feel like there could be a sequel.

Kathryn Durst did fantastic job with art for “Hey Grandude!”


Allen Klingelhoets