Truhelkova, Lucie Hasova. Grandad’s Pink Trousers. Andrea Tachezy, Illus. Albatros, 10/2022. [56]pp. Picture Book. Trade $16.95. 978-80-00-06592-2. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
A cantankerous old man is known for making his wife sad because he never buys her flowers, he gets upset if she throws out yogurt just beyond its due date, he saves bath water to flush the toilet, and he reuses old plastic bags even if they are stinky. Worst of all, everyone in town laughs at him because he wears her old pair of pink pants. When his first grandchild is born, he becomes funny and sweet with his grandson, but still grumpy with everyone else, and the boy finally asks him why. The grandfather tells him about the environmental consequences of growing flowers just for bouquets, of wasting water, of the damage caused by plastic bags, about food insecurity, and about child labor used to make cheaper clothing. A muted gray-and-brown watercolor palette highlights the playful color of the pink trousers. This Czech picture book is utterly delightful in its brusque delivery and both the tone and art is very different from most American fare. Primary characters are light skinned and read as white.
Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K–8 / Oakland Unified School District