Nana in the Country
by Lauren Castillo; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Clarion/HarperCollins    40 pp.
2/24    9780544102170    $19.99

In this companion to Caldecott Honor Book Nana in the City (rev. 11/14), Nana comes out to the country to visit with her grandchild. The young narrator is excited to introduce Nana to the special things about rural living but is disappointed to find that “Nana doesn’t seem surprised. Not even a bit! I can’t show Nana how to do anything in the country.” Castillo’s detailed ink, watercolor, and pastel illustrations are as at home in portraying this small-farm setting as they were in conveying the hustle and bustle of Nana’s beloved city. The art in both books honors the special relationship between grandparent and grandchild. A middle-of-the-night thunderstorm and a sheep on the loose rattle Nana—and provide her farm-ambassador charge with an opportunity to show off some animal-husbandry know-how. This is a satisfying return visit with two engaging characters.

From the January/February 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.