Kate Callaghan
Grandma Portia is not the fairy tale character who bakes cookies and finds herself eaten by a big bad wolf. She makes up for her lack of traditional skills by using her favorite martial art, aikido, to trap a sinister stranger who breaks into the house.
The children are surprisingly adaptable. With the help of Ram, the red-turbaned neighbor, all ends well, and the soccer match with the next street’s blue team takes place as planned. Grandma Portia leaves on her green motor cycle and the children change their minds about grandmothers.
The author was introduced to aikido, a defensive martial art, while she was teaching in Japan. Because it does not require abnormal strength, young and old can learn to defend themselves and enjoy a very graceful art. The writer makes sure that the children are involved in the action, which relies on reality rather than magic. The story should appeal to children between the ages of seven and nine…and their grandmas.
The illustrations are accurately interpreted by Rafael Navarro, who is gaining an international reputation for his animation work. Kate Callaghan has taught English in U.S.A, England, France, Hong Kong, Germany and Japan, and now lives in Tucson, Arizona.
“Why aren’t grandmas like the ones in my book?” moaned Olivia, shaking her dark curls sadly. “Look at this nice old lady standing outside her cottage holding a plate of cookies for the children.”
