Hop, Skip, Jump! by Mary Giammona
Join in on the adventure with a grandmother and her granddaughter as they spend the day together laughing and imagining, while also getting in a bit of exercise. Hop, Skip, Jump! by Mary Giammona, MD is a charming book that tells the heartwarming tale of an ordinary day spent with family, and the way movement and exercise can be enjoyable with loved ones by your side.
As soon as the granddaughter is shaking her grandmother awake, we know that they are both in for a day of fun hopping, skipping and jumping! They both set out on their adventure, hopping over chalk in the park, hopping through jump ropes, skipping to the beat, and finally jumping up and down, forward and backward, before meeting up with the rest of the family for a well-earned rest and delicious picnic. There, grandmother and granddaughter reflect on their day filled with adventure, exercise and best of all, love!
This fun-loving story both encourages readers to spend time with family and loved ones, and also expresses the importance of exercise and how to make it more fun! There is something so special about the bond between a grandmother and her grandchild; it’s a connection that is so precious and is clearly shown through the captivating message in this book.
Professional and Personal Experience
With lyrical rhymes and vivid illustrations, Hop, Skip, Jump! is bound to keep any young reader engaged. The clear instructions also make it an easy book to follow along with — and energetic children will be eager to hop, skip and jump around as the book is being read aloud to them!
The sweet ending of the book, which concludes at the family picnic, shows how important it is to stay active and healthy while enjoying all the little joys that life has to offer. Author Mary Giammona is uniquely qualified to write this book not only with her experience as a grandmother, but also as a doctor! As a pediatrician, Dr. Giammona knows the importance of exercise to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle, but as a grandmother she also knows the importance of love and quality time spent together as a family.
As someone who has lost all of my grandparents, stories like these are so precious to me. While it does make me sad thinking about all the adventures I wish I could still go on with my grandparents, it also brings back a rush of memories I had with them, and it warms my heart thinking that they are all still watching over me. With the holidays approaching, this book would be the perfect gift for the loving grandmother in your life!
