Tales of a Gambling Grandma

by Dayal Kaur Khalsa

Book Overview

The grandma of this story is different. Not many grandmas teach their granddaughters how to play poker, or take train rides across the country, bathing in fresh orange juice. But this grandma is also... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0887763359
• ISBN13: 9780887763359
• Release Date: October 1994
• Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 8.0" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

Extremely poignant for a children's book

I picked up the book in the library and began reading for the strange title... By the end I was just in tears at the wonderful story and reminded me of my grandma and my relationship with her. Great story that is entertaining for both adults and children, and hopefully will encourage children to cherish their time with their grandma.

Grandma didn't let any grass grow under her toes

This is a very sweet reminiscence of the author's immigrant grandma, who embraced life fully. She played poker with Dutch Schultz's gang while her plumber husband fixed their toilets. While she cared for the author as a child she passed along the wisdom she'd accumulated. Advice like "Never, ever go into the woods alone because the gypsies will get you or, should you escape that cruel fate, you'll fall down a hole." Or, "Just in case the Cossacks come to Queens, learn to say 'Da' and always keep plenty of borscht in the refrigerator." As a senior citizen she took the train from New York to California, where she could always find a poker game. When the author was old enough, she taught her to play poker as well. The author's illustrations of the way she imagined her grandmother's stories are a delight. Loving respect informs every page. The author was lucky to have such a grandma, and we are lucky to share her story.