Literacy is a right. Every person around the world should have the right to learn to read and write but unfortunately still today, illiteracy persists especially among women. Grandmother School by Rina Singh and Ellen Rooney teaches readers about a unique school for older women in a small village in India.

Grandmother School is a story based around an actual place. In 2016 a teacher named Yogendra Bangar opened a school just for the grandmothers of his village so they could learn to read and write. Rina Singh’s descriptions of the learning that happens at Grandmother School is so relatable to young readers who are beginning their learning journeys. There is a palpable pride exuding from all of the grandmothers. These are women who have never had the opportunity to be educated and to learn the simple art of signing their names. 

Grandmother School is also a beautiful story about a relationship between grandmother and granddaughter. In the story, the granddaughter becomes the tutor and a pseudo parent figure to her grandmother. They share in their learning together and the granddaughter encourages and helps her grandmother with her school work. They tell stories together and talk about all of the words Aaji will take with her to the next world.

The beautiful collage and stamped illustrations by Ellen Rooney fill the pages with colour and beauty. Readers will be inspired by her illustrations and may even want to create their own ink and stamp designs.