Description
"A positive and realistic representation of both a wheelchair user and an elderly, interracial gay male couple." —Kirkus Reviews
"A beautiful and uplifting book." —School Library Journal
Lou spends every Saturday with Grandad and Pops. They walk to the library hand in hand, like a chain of paper dolls. Grandad reads books about science and design, Pops listens to rock and roll, and Lou bounces from lap to lap. But everything changes one Saturday. Pops has a fall. That night there is terrible news: Pops will need to use a wheelchair, not just for now, but for always. Unable to cope with his new circumstances, he becomes withdrawn and shuts himself in his room. Hearing Grandad trying to cheer up Pops inspires Lou to make a plan. Using skills learned from Grandad, and with a little help from their neighbors, Lou comes up with a plan for Pops.
Available in French as Une idée pour Papi.
Author Bio
Heather Smith is the author of several picture books, including the award-winning The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden. Her middle-grade novel The Boy, the Cloud and the Very Tall Tale has been named a Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year and her picture book Waking Ben Doldrums was shortlisted for the IBBY Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award and won the IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities award. Originally from Newfoundland, Heather now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her family.
Brooke Kerrigan has loved drawing ever since she was a little girl, so it seemed only natural that she would grow up to be an artist. Of all her creative endeavors, illustrating children's books is her favorite. Brooke has illustrated more than ten picture books, including the award-winning A Wee Boo and the Blue Spruce Award nominee A Plan for Pops. Born in Toronto, she currently lives with her husband in the French Alps.
Prizes
- Ontario Library Association (OLA) Best BetsCommended 2019
- American Library Association (ALA) Rainbow Book ListCommended 2020
- BC Books for SchoolsCommended 2021
- Spirituality & Practice (S&P) Awards - The Best Spiritual Books of the YearCommended 2019
- Forest of Reading Blue Spruce AwardNominated 2020
- Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Our Choice, starred selectionCommended 2019
Review Quotes
"Uplifting and empowering, A Plan for Pops is a great read with inspiring messaging and lovely illustrations."
— Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk"A beautiful and uplifting book to help children learn how to handle challenges and help others; a great choice for intergenerational picture book shelves."
— School Library Journal (SLJ)“With help from a teacher, young readers may understand the cycle of life as a balance between being independent and being dependent on others. Additionally, the book is a reminder of the benefits of having relationships with grandparents and understanding that they were young once too.”
— BC Books for SchoolsBiographical note
Heather Smith is the author of several picture books, including the award-winning The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden. Her middle-grade novel Ebb and Flow was shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award, and her YA novel The Agony of Bun O'Keefe won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award, the OLA Forest of Reading White Pine Award and was shortlisted for the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award and the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People. Originally from Newfoundland, Heather now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her family.
Brooke Kerrigan has loved drawing ever since she was a little girl, so it seemed only natural that she would grow up to be an artist. Of all her creative endeavors, illustrating children's books is her favorite. Brooke has illustrated over 10 picture books, including design-award-winning Fishermen Through & Through and the Blue Spruce honor book The Little Boy Who Lived Down the Drain. Born in Toronto, she currently lives with her husband in the French Alps.
