NANA SAYS I WILL BE FAMOUS ONE DAY

A grandmother dog supports her grandchild in many sports and school activities, pushing the pup to achieve greater results and future fame.

Nana is an old-fashioned grandmother dog with a curly, gray topknot, glasses, plaid skirts, and sensible shoes. However, her attitude as a pushy-parent stand-in embodies the worst modern-day aspects of poor sportsmanship and sideline second-guessing of coaches, umpires, and teachers. She inserts herself on the team bench at a swim meet in order to ensure her grandchild is first in line to compete, gives the football coach unsolicited tips on plays, and interrupts a band concert by dancing in the aisle. At a baseball game, Nana screams at the umpire that he needs to get his eyes checked. When Nana breaks her ankle after a fall, her grandchild helps her in many kind, loving ways, with a final page showing the pup on Nana’s lap as her biggest fan. Nana is presented in the first-person narration by the young dog as a competitive character who “always has to win,” even at card games with her devoted grandchild. There are no consequences for her poor behavior other than glaring looks from other parents, and Nana doesn’t change her ways even when she is reminded of the posted rules of good sportsmanship. Humorous, cartoon-style illustrations with a cast of dogs and cats add some exuberance with lots of motion and clever details.

A supportive grandparent is a joy; a pushy grandma is not, and readers may not wish to spend much time with this one.