Grannie Jus' Come!

In a bouncy, song-like dialect--presented phonetically--an animated child describes Grannie's weekly visit, recounting what the woman wears and carries in her purse, what she enjoys as a snack and how she freshens up after her bus ride. A concluding note explains that this tale, written with great affection, is based on the author's own childhood. Like her young narrator, debut children's book author Sisnett grew up in Panama speaking Caribbean English and had a close rapport with her grandmother. Though in places overly repetitive and short on action, the tale endearingly conveys the girl's sincere delight and the mutual love shared by the two: ""Ah say, `Oh, Grannie! Ah luv yu so much!' She say, `From de very first time Ah set eyes 'pon yu, Ah did luv yu plenty, plenty me luv!"" A full rainbow of robust colors fills first-time picture book artist Lusebrink's full-spread paintings, blooming with tropical flowers: on the bushes outside, in an arrangement indoors and on a variety of fabrics. Though characters sometimes strike a stiff pose, there are plenty of particulars on these festive pages to catch a child's eye--including the mischievous antics of a blue monkey scampering through the house. Ages 6-up. (Sept.)