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Nana in the Country
CCBC Review:
A preschool-age child who lives in the country is eager to show their “city nana” around. A visit that the child has clearly been anticipating doesn’t live up to their initial expectations, however. To the child (who has tan skin and short black hair), the country is friendly, wild, magical and, they assume, unfamiliar to Nana. Nana’s pleased but not awed reaction to things the young narrator shares are a disappointment after such great expectations. “I can’t show Nana how to do a thing in the country. She already knows how to do it all.” Nana’s reassurance that she’s eager to learn more the next day offers little comfort at bedtime. During the night, however, a thunderstorm and a loose sheep provide an opportunity for the child to shine, because, unlike Nana, they know exactly what to do. It’s a reset that makes the rest of the visit exactly what the child hoped for, as they show Nana how to do various chores on their small farm. By visit’s end, Nana agrees that the country is friendly, wild, and “filled with the most magical thing—ME!” A quietly comforting story punctuated by middle-of-the-night drama is brimming with emotional honesty. This companion to Nana in the City features cozy ink, watercolor, and pastel illustrations in a warm palette. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Lauren Castillo
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 3-6
Age Range:
Babies/Toddlers (birth – 3)
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Anticipation
Disappointment
Farming and Farmers
Grandmothers
Problem-Solving
Responsibility
Rural Life
Weather
On CCBC Booklist:
Small Town and Rural Life: Selected Books for Children and Teens
Publishers:
Clarion, HarperCollins
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 40
ISBN: 9780544102170
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Castillo