Decoda Program Manager, Maureen Kehler, shares her reading experience with her granddaughter Pippa. 

Our daughter and son-in-law left for Zambia with our grandkids a year and a half ago. I was heartbroken but happy for them. I know that in the age of internet and video calling I’ve got it good. However, connecting with the grandkids when they don’t really want to chat is hard. It’s difficult because our relationship has never been about sitting around, chatting. It was about doing things together; playing outside, reading, drawing, cooking and sometimes, just being in the same space. The 9-hour time difference adds another challenge.

A few weeks ago Jessica told me that she was reading Beatrice and Croc Harry by Laurence Hill to Pippa (age 8). I immediately ordered it from the library and when it arrived I texted Jessica to ask what chapter they were in. I said I would read fast to catch up. “Mom, we finished it last night.”

My mission was clear. Read Beatrice quickly.

At 9:02 am I voice messaged Pippa on WhatsApp, “Pippa, I’m on chapter 6 and I’m worried that Croc Harry isn’t a friend but a dangerous foe.”

At 6:32 pm – redacted so that I don’t spoil the story for you. “Pippa, I’m in the middle of chapter 10. Beatrice has met Horace. I think he’s cute but annoying. I love Fuzzy the Tarantula, so cool. Met Kiljoy and Matilda. Beatrice still doesn’t know who she is and is feeling lonely in Argilia. I thought I would get a lot more reading done today but I had chores to do.”

6:33 pm “Oh yeah, Miss Rainbow. What’s she all about? She seems friendly and knows a lot. What do you think she represents besides goodness and joy?”

6:35 pm “Oh, and my favourite word of all the lovely words in this book is palavering. Because I love palavering!  When we find the time, let’s palaver instead of sending voice messages.”

12:17 pm the next day. “Pippa, I’m on lunch break. Just finished chapter 20. Have you ever put avocado in your hair to make it easier to comb? Have you ever danced under the stars?”

At last, a message from Pippa at 12:36 pm, “Gramma, my favourite character is Horace the speckled rabbit. Very, very cool! No, I don’t put avocado in my hair and I don’t dance at night. Anyway, I’ll see you next recording and when you come back. When are you coming back? Love you, bye.”

2:45 pm “Pippa, what do Opa and Beatrice have in common besides having oatmeal for breakfast every single day?”

3:04 pm and 5:15 pm. Includes details in the plot that you don’t want to know before you read the book.

5:30 pm “Pippa, I just finished the book. Loved it! What a powerful story. Loved the ending. So many big, beautiful words, real and made-up. I’m so glad that you introduced me to the book. Let’s talk about it when you have time. I know you’re sleeping right now.”

A message from Pippa at 3:00 am (12:00 pm her time). “Gramma, my favourite word is palaver.”

The next day at 11:45 am, Pippa video calls me and we palaver about Beatrice and Croc Harry for 25 minutes. I can’t tell you what we talked about because that would spoil the adventure for you.

What I can tell you is: Beatrice wakes up in a strange forest called the Argilia with no memory of who she is and how she got there. She must use her “smarts” to survive. As she pieces together who she is and where she came from, Beatrice confronts painful truths about racism, colonialism, and loss. Along the way, she finds her voice and it is powerful.

Beatrice and Croc Harry by Lawrence Hill is a novel that blends adventure, humour and fantasy with themes about resilience, identity and social justice.

Pippa and I highly recommend.