Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday!
I actually have another lyrical text I want to share, but I’ve done so many of those lately I thought I’d change it up today and do something light-hearted, fun, and sweet.
Somehow, although I am obviously still only 29 years old, I have managed to become a grandmother (doesn’t the word “grandmother” sound absolutely ancient?! 😊) It is one of the greatest joys of my life, and I can only hope I am as much fun as Gaga 😊
Title: Gaga Mistake Day
Written By: Emma Straub & Susan Straub
Illustrated By: Jessica Love
ISBN#: 978-0593529461
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books/PRH, April 9, 2024
Suitable For Ages: 3-6
Themes/Topics: grandparent/grandchild relationship, humor, love
text copyright Emma & Susan Straub 2025, illustration copyright Jessica Love 2025, Rocky Pond Books/PRH
Opening:
“My Gaga comes over on Saturdays
so my parents can do errands.
She makes lots of mistakes.”
text copyright Emma & Susan Straub 2025, illustration copyright Jessica Love 2025, Rocky Pond Books/PRH
Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “Gaga days are the best! That’s when this eccentric, mischievous grandma babysits her delighted granddaughter. These Gaga days are always full of the silliest “mistakes,” like swapping eyeglasses and walking backwards to the park. Like making the house safe by eating all the marshmallow goblins, filling the tub to bursting with bubbles, and then reading a bedtime story all the way through upside down.”
text copyright Emma & Susan Straub 2025, illustration copyright Jessica Love 2025, Rocky Pond Books/PRH
text copyright Emma & Susan Straub 2025, illustration copyright Jessica Love 2025, Rocky Pond Books/PRH
Links To Resources: Try out all the things in this book with your grandma (or other favorite person)! Play dress up, turn on fun music and dance, walk backward to the park (or anywhere else) etc. Draw pictures of the things you’ve done together, or the things you’d like to do together. Write a story about your best day with your grandma (or other favorite person), or make up a story about an adventure you have together.
text copyright Emma & Susan Straub 2025, illustration copyright Jessica Love 2025, Rocky Pond Books/PRH
text copyright Emma & Susan Straub 2025, illustration copyright Jessica Love 2025, Rocky Pond Books/PRH
Why I Like This Book: There is something special about grandparents. Kids get to do things with them they might not do with their parents. The relationship is different – a little more carefree; a little less pressures and routines of daily life and a little more relaxed and fun. And that is certainly the case with the little girl and her Gaga in this story. Their pure delight in each other’s company, the sheer enjoyment they find in spending time together just leaps off the pages of this happy, silly book. Gaga calls the cats comically incorrect names – instead of Rainbow and Honeybutter, she calls them (among other things) Riverbottom and Honeycrisp. She and her granddaughter play games, go to the park, have a very eclectic lunch, dress up, dance, and bake cupcakes with sprinkles to have a birthday party for one of the stuffed animals. Gaga lets her granddaughter eat a whole bag of marshmallows before dinner, and floods the bathroom with bubbles during bath time. Oops. 😊 And at the end of their fun-filled day, the granddaughter shows that she is truly Gaga’s granddaughter, has picking up on Gaga’s humor by handing her the bedtime story to read upside down… which Gaga does, the whole way through as though she hadn’t noticed. Such a delight, this book! A perfect read for any child with a beloved grandparent!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
And if you’re in the area this weekend, join us at the Poughkeepsie Children’s Book Festival on Saturday!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
This book looks like fun. I love the illustrations and especially the characters. How fun! Congratulations and good luck! ♥️
It is a lovely, delightful, joyful book, Robin! Well worth reading!
How fun! And you’re right, the relationship with a granddaughter after raising three boys, is pure joy! My Emersyn will LOVE this book. Very sweet!
It is sweet, and light-hearted and fun, Kim. It’s really a book about joy!
This looks fantastic! Beautiful artwork and what an opening!!! I hope I am Lucky enough to experience grandmotherhood too!
It just goes to show how much fun and silliness can be had with “mistakes”, Julie 🙂 I hope you get to have grandkids, too! They will love you!
What fun! I was in the mood for a a humorous book, and your choice seems perfect! I love the dreamy illustrations, too.
It’s so delightful, Patricia! The relationship between Gaga and her granddaughter is so beautifully depicted!
Thanks for sharing, Susanna! Our library has it, and I placed it on hold. Can’t wait to read it!
I hope you love it! 🙂
What a fun and kid-friendly story! I can just imagine the delight of a young reader watching Gaga delight her grandchild. There is magic in their interactions. And the illustrations are perfect confections. Thanks for the rec, Susanna. Will be adding to my TBR list!
It really is, Jilanne! I hope you enjoy it!
How fun and how funny! I’m going to read it to pick up a few tricks (like the marshmallows are goblins thing – who knew?!).
I know, right? Helpful research for us grandmas looking for ways to delight our grandkids 🙂
Being a Grandmom is such a special blessing! I love the “Gaga” in this PB! Quite the sense of humor!!!!👵❤️
I know! Isn’t she wonderful? She reminds me of my grandpa 🙂
A wonderful choice indeed.
And wait until you reach 30, Susanna! It’s all good after that! 😉
I’m not sure I’m ready for 30 yet, Laura. I think I’m going to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of my 29th birthday this year 🙂
That’s also a good plan, my friend! My mom always celebrated the anniversary of her 16th birthday!
Ooh! 16 was a good year, too! Maybe I’ll do that next year 🙂
This is so cute! I smiled reading the spreads you shared. The opening is super and the illustrations are lovely.
Isn’t it great, Christy? So beautifully done, and so joyful!
I love it! How fun! I might need to try a few of those tricks myself!
She certainly does sound like a super fun grandma, Angie! 🙂
We have this one at home. Precious. My daughter loves it. 🥰
Isn’t it wonderful, Kate? I just love the warmth and closeness along with the humor in their relationship!
Grandparenting is a chance to be a child again – and not think about growing up!
So true, Robin! Making snowmen, sledding, playing hide ‘n’ seek, don’t touch the ground, princesses, and can’t catch me, making tents and coloring again – so much fun! 🙂