A Grandma's Magic by Charlotte Offsay and Åsa Gilland

Happy, happy Monday! Please join me in welcoming back Charlotte Offsay to Watch. Connect. Read. to celebrate grandmothers and grandchildren! As someone who was mostly raised by a grandmother, I have a special place in my heart for books celebrating grandmothers. Charlotte wrote the words in black, and I wrote the words in purple. Thank you, Charlotte! 

A Grandma’s Magic is a picture book celebration of grandmothers and all the ways in which they are magical. It is for kids who ache at the end of a visit, and for their grandmas, whose love and tenderness is with us no matter how far away they are. It is illustrated by Asa Gilland and publishes in March 2022 from Doubleday Books for Young Readers.

Åsa Gilland’s illustrations are incredible. Her use of color and emotion perfectly capture the warmth and “magic” of grandmas. Each spread is detailed, heart squeezing and beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I can’t wait for readers to find and celebrate their own grandmothers in the pages.

A Grandma’s Magic’s endpapers need to be made into wallpaper so that I can cover my house in them! They are absolutely stunning. Swoon!

Picture books are moments of connection waiting to be shared. They are a pathway to snuggles, laughter, adventure and learning.

Did you know that even as an adult I still have a hard time saying goodbye to my grandma? My Grandma lives in England (where I was born) and I don’t get to see her as often as I would like. I wrote A Grandma’s Magic as an ode to her after one particularly difficult goodbye. She is warm and loving and her magic inspires me daily even from far across the pond.

Thank you, Charlotte! 

CHARLOTTE OFFSAY was born in England, grew up in Boston, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two small children. Through her work, Charlotte hopes to make children laugh, to inspire curiosity, and to create a magical world her readers can lose themselves in time and time again. Charlotte’s debut picture book, The Big Beach Cleanup, illustrated by Kate Rewse was published by Albert Whitman in Spring 2021, followed by How to Return a Monster, illustrated by Rea Zhai releasing Fall 2021 with Beaming Books. A Grandma’s Magic, illustrated by Åsa Gilland will be published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers in Spring 2022.

Åsa Gilland works in graphic design, packaging design and illustration. She has illustrated multiple picture books, including Flibbertigibbety Words (Page Street Kids). Originally from Sweden, she has lived in Indonesia for over twenty years.

Look for A Grandma's Magic on March 1, 2022. 

In this charming picture book tribute to grandmas, a grandma’s magic bursts through the door as soon as she comes to visit and can be seen in every wonderful thing she does: playing, exploring, baking, gardening, and in all the many ways a grandma and grandchild connect.

Filled with adorable scenes featuring a diversity of grandmas and their grandkids, this is a book that will families can enjoy together. Grandmas will love snuggling with their grandchildren as they share their love and “magic” through cuddles, kisses, and many repeat readings.