When we heard a new book was coming out called ‘Granny Franny’s Big Red Bus’, we knew we had to ‘get on board’. My Mother-in-Law is called Frani and my daughters name her Nanny Frani. I knew they’d love this book as they would be able to imagine their very own Nanny Frani being Granny Franny. The book which was written during Covid 19 was also created to raise funds for bus related charities while all private hire vehicles were off the road. How lovely is that!
The book is written to an audience aged 2 – 8 and with its colourful pages, slightly wacky drawings and rhyming sentences, it kept my two captivated and giggling all the way through.
The story is about Granny Franny who has two grandchildren, twins Jax and Ronni. Jax and Ronni spend every Sunday with Granny Franny having a variety of fun days. Fun day Sundays to be exact, and as expected, they all involve food and drink – I’m sure it’s a requirement to being a Granny – you will over feed the grandchildren and send them home to parents full of e-numbers. Ha!
The twins have a birthday coming up and they ask Granny Franny if they can have another fun day Sunday. Granny informs them that she will make it a super special surprise.
But what will Granny Franny do with the twins? And how will Thinkerbell the bell, help?
Matilda and Jemima absolutely loved the book. Eagerly pressing Thinkerbell (the bus bell) on pictures of Granny Franny’s Big Red Bus. ‘Ding, Ding, Ding’. They laughed and were eager to turn the next page to see what was coming next. From Granny’s awful driving whilst practising, to picking up the boys and taking them on their birthday surprise around London. Can you guess some of the places that they go to? And as it’s based in London, can you imagine what type of weather might appear?
A great story written by Sonia Beldom who made her own lifelong dream come true by saving up for bus driving lessons and qualifying as a bus driver in 2018. In between her normal job as a TV producer and executive coach, Sonia started driving heritage London Routemaster double-decker buses at weekends as she enjoys seeing so many happy brides, tourists and party goers around London on a classic bus.
My two girls gave the book a huge thumbs up!
You can currently purchase the book from Amazon for £4.99 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Granny-Frannys-Big-Red-Bus-ebook/dp/B089NH4438
Granny Franny also has her own website which I recommend people look at, to hear more about the author and some of the fantastic work she has done. There’s also a greats section where children can ask Thinkerbell a question and parents will get an email back to read to the children https://www.grannyfrannysbigredbus.com/askthinkerbell .
Disclaimer: We were gifted this book in return for an honest review. We loved the story book and have already read it 3 times.