Meatballs for Grandpa

Meatballs for Grandpa is a sensitively written and beautifully illustrated young reader story (~5-8 year olds) by Jeanette Fazzari Jones and Jaclyn Sinquett (illus.). Due out 12th March 2024 from Amazon on their Two Lions imprint, it's 40 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book will be included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

This is such a sweet book. Felicia's grandfather has Alzheimer's and doesn't always remember her. She and her grandma spend time making a special family recipe in the hopes that he'll come back to them even if only for a little while. There are a lot of important takeaways here, spending time with loved ones in the here-and-now, finding enjoyment in small tasks, learning from (and spending time with) our elder generations before it's too late. 

There are Italian words and phrases sprinkled throughout. Although there's a short glossary at the back of the book, the words are clear from context. It's a simple book, but such a cozy read. The author has also included her own family recipe for spaghetti and meatballs. 

The illustrations are warmly inviting, cozy, and suit the simple text very well. 

Four and a half stars. It would be a great choice for public/school/classroom library, for home use, and for gift giving to a young friend (or family member whose loved one is maybe in a similar situation to young Felicia). 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.