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Reviewed by K T Bowes for Readers' Favorite
This beautifully illustrated children’s book by Melissa Robinson is about creating memories of the ones you love while you have the chance. It’s based on the author’s relationship with the real Grandma Marjorie and her African Grey Parrot, Misty. Grandma Marjorie has a magic timepiece, which acts as a gateway to adventure for her and her granddaughter, Mel. The imaginative possibilities are endless for a series and provide enough breadcrumbs for a child to continue inventing exciting quests long after the book is closed. The magic shrinks Grandma Marjorie and Mel so they can ride on Misty’s back and soar above their town. They land on the lighthouse where Grandma grew up and I love the emotional intelligence offered when her voice becomes scratchy. Even a young child can pick up on the inference of remembrance inducing a fullness of heart. When a seagull snatches Grandma Marjorie’s bag, she becomes a hero in defending herself, defying any idea of our elders being feeble. Notably, the things in her bag that are important to her aren’t money or jewelry but a map, a pet mouse, and a magnifying glass. Her bungee jump is then both brave and awesome. She’s a force to be reckoned with and a safe pair of hands for Mel to trust on future adventures.
I loved the detailed illustrations by Olga Sall, which make Grandma Marjorie and the Feathered Pirate a privilege to read. They include even the texture of Grandma’s lilac cardigan. Grandma Marjorie is not the usual caricature of the curly-haired, short-sighted pensioner in a twin set and pearls. She’s an engaging and realistic woman wearing trendy clothing and not troubled by a little chaos in her kitchen. She’s much more relatable and quite a lot like my children’s grandma, who bakes, wears jeans and runs marathons. The colors of the illustrations are next level, both gentle and appealing. My granddaughter is still small but loves books and we spent a long time examining each page. Her gaze darted everywhere as she soaked up all the sunny shades, crafted for maximum enjoyment. The colors and designs reminded me of Richard Scarry’s many successful children’s books, which I adored as a child. We enjoyed how almost every building is labeled on the aerial view of the town. We looked at everything on the pages and talked about each of the locations Grandma Marjorie flew over. The tiny animals included in her adventures are subtle but delightful. My granddaughter loved the mouse. The black and purple fonts were easy to read, and I liked how the purple emphasis matched Grandma’s favorite cardigan. It’s a stunning book with more hidden depths than one would expect. My granddaughter and I loved it. I would love for her to see me like Grandma Marjorie; quirky, uninhibited, fun, and especially safe.
