Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs

Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola tells the story of four-year-old Tommy and his relationship with two important women in his life - his grandmother and his great-grandmother. Every Sunday, Tommy visits both grandmothers in the same house, with one living downstairs and the other upstairs in bed. The story follows Tommy's weekly routine of spending time with each grandmother and learning their different habits and customs. He forms unique bonds with both women, participating in specific activities and traditions with each one. Through this autobiographical tale, dePaola presents themes of family bonds, aging, and how children process change. The story provides a gentle framework for discussing loss and memory with young readers.

Readers appreciate how the book handles death and loss in a gentle, straightforward way that children can understand. Parents and teachers say it helps start conversations about grief and remembering loved ones. Several reviewers mentioned using it to help children cope with losing grandparents. Readers connect with the authentic portrayal of multi-generational relationships and Sunday family traditions. Many note how the illustrations capture small, meaningful moments. Some readers found the pacing slow and noted their children lost interest. A few mentioned the subject matter was too heavy for very young children. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (2,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (280+ ratings) Scholastic: 4.9/5 (90+ ratings) Common reader comment: "This book helped my child understand death in a natural, non-frightening way" Criticism from parent review: "The concept of death may be too abstract for toddlers - better for school-age children"

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🏠 "Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs" is based on Tomie dePaola's own childhood experiences with his grandmother and great-grandmother in Connecticut during the 1930s. 👵 The book sensitively addresses the topic of death and loss through a child's perspective, making it one of the first picture books to tackle this challenging subject for young readers. 📚 Author Tomie dePaola wrote and illustrated over 260 books during his career, but this particular book held special significance as one of his most personal works. 🎨 The illustrations use dePaola's signature style with soft, muted colors and gentle lines, specifically chosen to create a comforting atmosphere for children dealing with grief. 💕 The "Nana Upstairs" character was based on his great-grandmother, who was bedridden and stayed on the second floor, while "Nana Downstairs" was his grandmother who worked in the kitchen - hence their nicknames.