Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs
Tommy's weekly relationships with his grandmother and bedridden great-grandmother establish ordinary care before each death, so later rituals and memories refer to people the reader has known.
Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola is estimated to take about 8 minutes to read aloud (705 words, 2 sentences a spread). Best for ages 4-6.
Check the book on AmazonAffiliate link
- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 8 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Words
- 705Word count
- Sentences per spread
- 2Text density
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary level
- 3/5a few new words
- Best for
- Ages 4-6Age range
Our review
The names 'Nana Upstairs' and 'Nana Downstairs' come from where Tommy finds each woman in the house, grounding four generations in repeated visits. After Nana Upstairs dies, a falling star becomes part of Tommy's memory; the later death of Nana Downstairs extends the pattern without making the two relationships interchangeable.
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney concentrates on one day, one pet and a list made for burial. Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs spans years and is better for discussing aging alongside death. Its tenderness should accompany direct language about what dying means.
Before you buy it
Two deaths and older family practices make this emotionally dense. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney offers a shorter pet-loss story with a single memorial task.
Themes
- death
- grandmothers
- memory
- family
Books like Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs
More books with similar themes, formats, lengths and ways to join in.
Badger's Parting Giftsabout 10 minutes estimated · book review
The Tenth Good Thing About Barneyabout 9 minutes estimated · book review
Ida, Alwaysabout 9 minutes estimated · book review
Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Childrenabout 6 minutes estimated · book review
Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Teaabout 6.5 minutes estimated · book review
