Here Comes Hortense!

Part of Nana

Illustrated by Georgia Graham
Look inside
Hardcover
$17.95 US
| $19.99 CAN
On sale Apr 10, 2012 | 32 Pages | 9781770492219
Age 4-6 years | Preschool - 1
The feisty, irrepressible Nana we met in Nana’s Getting Married is back. And what could be more fun for a six-year-old than having your nana and her new husband take you to a theme park? But the fun is spoiled when Nana and Bob announce that they’ve planned a surprise: they are going to be joined by Bob’s granddaughter, Hortense. It turns out to be the worst surprise ever. Nana shares her room with Hortense instead of her disgruntled little grandson. She sings her special good-night song to Hortense. She goes on all the scary rides with Hortense. And, worst of all, Hortense has a special name for Nana.
 
A perceptive and hilarious exploration of rivalry, there’s a gentle lesson for readers, young and old.
 “…Hartt-Sussman's narrative touch is deft. Graham's chalk pastels, a wacky delight from start to finish, bring appropriate lift to what could be a melancholy story. Her characters are uniquely quirky yet have a streak of photographic realism. Warm and offbeat.”
—Kirkus Reviews
 
“…Georgia Graham’s artwork is truly delightful…. The drawings suit the story so well and are complemented with large bold text in many strategic places…. The results are playful, quirky, colourful and action-packed artwork!”
—Highly Recommended, CM Magazine

“In a well told story, Hartt-Sussman gently captures all the feelings of jealousy and exclusion as well as the very real love between grandparents and grandchildren (and between Bob and Nana) and brings it to a satisfying conclusion.”
Canadian Children’s Book News

“Graham’s exaggerated chalk pastels feature a lurid carnival palette and in-your-face characterizations, providing a comedic balance to the boy’s pained emotional state.”
Publishers Weekly
HEATHER HARTT-SUSSMAN, born in Montreal, graduated from Brandeis University and attended the Sorbonne. She has been a copywriter for BCP in Montreal, a reporter for the Hollywood Reporter, editor-in-chief of international news for TV Guide in French Canada, columnist of the popular “Heather Hartt in Hollywood,” and host of E! Entertainment Television’s The Gossip Show. Nana’s Getting Married is her first book. Heather Hartt-Sussman lives in Toronto with her husband, sons Scotty and Jack, and the family dog. View titles by Heather Hartt-Sussman
© Debbie Pow
GEORGIA GRAHAM, born and raised in Calgary, has been using chalk pastels since childhood. She began using artwork to entertain children in her Sunday school class and has illustrated several children’s books, including Wanda and the Wild Hair and Wanda and the Frogs, by Barbara Azore. The Lime Green Secret, which she wrote and illustrated, was published to critical acclaim. Georgia Graham lives on a tree farm in central Alberta with her husband and dog, Ginger. View titles by Georgia Graham

About

The feisty, irrepressible Nana we met in Nana’s Getting Married is back. And what could be more fun for a six-year-old than having your nana and her new husband take you to a theme park? But the fun is spoiled when Nana and Bob announce that they’ve planned a surprise: they are going to be joined by Bob’s granddaughter, Hortense. It turns out to be the worst surprise ever. Nana shares her room with Hortense instead of her disgruntled little grandson. She sings her special good-night song to Hortense. She goes on all the scary rides with Hortense. And, worst of all, Hortense has a special name for Nana.
 
A perceptive and hilarious exploration of rivalry, there’s a gentle lesson for readers, young and old.

Reviews

 “…Hartt-Sussman's narrative touch is deft. Graham's chalk pastels, a wacky delight from start to finish, bring appropriate lift to what could be a melancholy story. Her characters are uniquely quirky yet have a streak of photographic realism. Warm and offbeat.”
—Kirkus Reviews
 
“…Georgia Graham’s artwork is truly delightful…. The drawings suit the story so well and are complemented with large bold text in many strategic places…. The results are playful, quirky, colourful and action-packed artwork!”
—Highly Recommended, CM Magazine

“In a well told story, Hartt-Sussman gently captures all the feelings of jealousy and exclusion as well as the very real love between grandparents and grandchildren (and between Bob and Nana) and brings it to a satisfying conclusion.”
Canadian Children’s Book News

“Graham’s exaggerated chalk pastels feature a lurid carnival palette and in-your-face characterizations, providing a comedic balance to the boy’s pained emotional state.”
Publishers Weekly

Author

HEATHER HARTT-SUSSMAN, born in Montreal, graduated from Brandeis University and attended the Sorbonne. She has been a copywriter for BCP in Montreal, a reporter for the Hollywood Reporter, editor-in-chief of international news for TV Guide in French Canada, columnist of the popular “Heather Hartt in Hollywood,” and host of E! Entertainment Television’s The Gossip Show. Nana’s Getting Married is her first book. Heather Hartt-Sussman lives in Toronto with her husband, sons Scotty and Jack, and the family dog. View titles by Heather Hartt-Sussman
© Debbie Pow
GEORGIA GRAHAM, born and raised in Calgary, has been using chalk pastels since childhood. She began using artwork to entertain children in her Sunday school class and has illustrated several children’s books, including Wanda and the Wild Hair and Wanda and the Frogs, by Barbara Azore. The Lime Green Secret, which she wrote and illustrated, was published to critical acclaim. Georgia Graham lives on a tree farm in central Alberta with her husband and dog, Ginger. View titles by Georgia Graham