Do your parents make you go to Grandma’s house every year? Is your Grandma a crook? Well, Joe’s parents make him, and he has to ride a rusty old airplane at a fair!
If you want to find out if Joe makes it or if the plane crashes you’ll have to read the book. ( )

This book tells the stories of a crazy grandma through the eyes of her grandchildren. This is a good book to act out as a reader's theatre.

This is a book about a brother and sister from Chicago who go a visit there grandmother. Everytime they go there is a new adventure and story. I would have students act out scences from this book or even add on their own chapter. A very funny book that students will enjoy.

This is a great book. I read for lit circle group and it was my favorite of all the books I read.

This Newberry Honor Book kis about two children,l Joey and Mary Alice who live in Chicago during the early 1930s. When they are nine and seven respectively, they begin spending a week each August with Grandma Dowdell in a small rural town somewhere in Illinois. Each chapter is full of funny, amazing and eye-opening adventures. For the next seven years, there is never a dull moment as they learn many of life's lessons from their wise, though sometimes eccentric, grandmother. From the first summer where Grandma shoots a dead body to the last summer where they get to meet a real life war hero, the book takes you through many delightful twists and turns.

This book reminded me of when I was young and my summers that were spent with my grandparents. My grandmother was much like Grandma Dowdell. It seemed like every day, simple activities all taught an important lesson that I didn't recognize at the time but still find myself applying today. The author made it easy to identify with the endearing characters, and it was written in an easy-to-understand manner. At times, I actually laughed out loud.

As an extension, this book could be used as an example of growing up during the depression era. Also, each child could relate a story about an adventure with a grandparent or elderly adult. If possible, the teacher could invite an older person to visit the class and share stories of their childhood. The teacher could also compare and contrast to how children grow up today and the differences in modern conveniences.