Two Artists, Grandad and Me
by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow; illus. by the author
Primary    Doubleday    32 pp.
1/26    9780593571224    $18.99

Barlow presents a tender homage to intergenerational connection and a lively celebration of creative expression. When a young Charnelle hears the “bop, tap, clap of Grandad’s jazz” coming from his artist’s studio, she immediately knows that “Grandad is painting.” He encourages Charnelle to explore making art with him and reassures her when things don’t go as planned. When she attempts a watercolor wash—“Make a puddle at the top, and use your brush to slowly pull it down the page”—her puddle runs away from her and makes a mess. When she reaches for the water jar, it falls “Clash, Clink, Clang” to the floor. Grandad tells her, “Don’t worry. I’ve had my fair share of spills too,” and hands her a sketchbook. The two then sit and sketch together. Charnelle worries that her drawing of a plant is wrong, and Grandad reminds her that “there is no right way. Every artist sees the world differently.” Mixed-media illustrations reflect the pair’s closeness, mutual respect, and artistic bond; the music playing in the background is represented as a ribbon of notes weaving through most pages. The final image of grandfather (revealed in the author’s note to be the late Jerry Pinkney) and granddaughter ascending stairs made of books is a fitting tribute to their family legacy. The note also provides more details, including that Barlow was the model for Pinkney’s picture book The Little Match Girl.

From the January/February 2026 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.