Now One Foot, Now the Other

Bobby and his grandfather Bob share a close relationship built on their special games and routines together. Their favorite activity involves Bob teaching Bobby to walk when he was a baby, counting "Now one foot, now the other" with each step. After Bob has a stroke, their roles reverse as Bobby helps his grandfather recover and regain basic skills. The story follows their journey through this challenging time, with Bobby drawing on their cherished memories and traditions. A boy's love for his grandfather motivates him to be patient and supportive during rehabilitation, mirroring the care he once received. The parallel between past and present creates a gentle narrative about family bonds, resilience, and the cycle of giving and receiving help.

Readers describe this book as an emotional story about the bond between a young boy and his grandfather. Many reviewers note they cry when reading it, even after multiple readings. Readers appreciated: - The realistic portrayal of stroke recovery - Multi-generational relationship depicted - Clear explanations of disability for young children - Detailed illustrations showing expressions and emotions Common criticisms: - Some found it too sad for young children - A few felt the medical situation was oversimplified Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (90+ ratings) One parent noted: "This helped my children understand their grandmother's stroke." Another wrote: "Be prepared for questions about death and illness." Several teachers mentioned using it to discuss empathy and family relationships in their classrooms, though some recommend pre-reading to determine if it suits their students' emotional maturity.

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🦋 Author Tomie dePaola wrote and illustrated over 260 children's books during his prolific career spanning more than 50 years 🦋 The book's theme of intergenerational relationships was inspired by dePaola's close relationship with his own grandfather 🦋 Stroke recovery, a central theme in the book, affects approximately 795,000 Americans each year, with many survivors relearning basic skills just like the character Bobby 🦋 The book has been used by healthcare professionals and families to help children understand and cope with stroke recovery in loved ones 🦋 DePaola received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (now called the Children's Literature Legacy Award) in 2011 for his lasting contribution to children's literature