This isn't the world's best book, but it certainly influenced my life since I read it in grade 3... about 30 years ago. Grandmother Oma is a kid's dream... she rollerskates, fights off mad bulls with her umbrella, and she knows that animals speak (with their ears and tails and noses!) . Looked down upon by her grownup son and other adults, she keeps her love of life, and retorts intelligently: " 'Greeks liked swinging- not only their children, but also their priests and priestesses who used swings at their religious ceremonies'. This silenced the schoolmaster..." A lesson for life... enjoy it and be yourself whatever your age. Don't grow old gracefully, grow old with pizzaz! Actually, I think it's time to read it again!