Banjo Granny
by Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Illustrated by Barry Root. Houghton Mifflin, 2006.
ISBN 0-618-33603-6.

Jackie Martin was living in Iowa when her first grandchild -- Owen, was born. She was delighted but Owen lived with his parents in California and Jackie could not see nearly enough of him.

It was not long before Jackie learned of Owen's love of Bluegrass music. Her desire to see more of Owen and her grandson's love of bluegrass inspired her and Owen's mom Sarah to collaborate on this tale of a granny eager to see her grandson and to share some bluegrass music. The song Sarah wrote especially for this book is one that young readers will sing over and over. This book is a precious celebration of a grandmother's love for her grandbaby.

Now the banjo (somewhat magical) was an imaginery device in the story -- a device that helped granny cross a river, the mountains, and the desert all in an effort to see her grandson.

In real life Jackie did not have a magical banjo case -- but with the help of John Drummond at banjo.com -- granny (Jackie) now has her magical case. Visit the definitive banjo site -- banjo.com and tell them Banjo Granny sent you. Read John's comment on The Bluegrass Blog.

For more information try these additional links:

National Four String Banjo Hall of Fame

Bluegrass Unlimited -- a magazine about Bluegrass music

Learn About Bluegrass from the International Bluegrass Music Association

International Bluegrass Music Museum -- The Hall of Fame page will introduce readers to Bill Monroe --

Bill Monroe is known as the "founding father" of bluegrass music. His band Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys gave the world this distinctive music and its name. Learn more about Bill Monroe ---> on the Roughstock's site of "History of Country Music"

Bill Monroe Foundation and the Monroe Brothers' Foundation

Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys

Back to Banjo Granny

More names in the world of Bluegrass music:

William “Bill” Monroe (and his brothers Birch and Charlie)
Eddie Adcock
Junior Barber
Richard Bennett
Mike Bischof
J.D. Crowe
Earl Scruggs
Raymond Fairchild
Jerry Garcia
David Grier
Andy Hall
Brad Harper
Bill Harrell
Bobby Hicks
Donna Hughes
Jim and Jesse McReynolds
Alicia Nugent
Ricky Skaggs
Ralph Stanley
Tim Stafford
Jeff White
Roland White

Banjo Granny by Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin Illustrated by Barry Root. Houghton Mifflin, 2006. ISBN 0-618-33603-6.

Jackie Martin was living in Iowa when her first grandchild -- Owen, was born. She was delighted but Owen lived with his parents in California and Jackie could not see nearly enough of him.

Banjo Granny
by Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Illustrated by Barry Root. Houghton Mifflin, 2006.
ISBN 0-618-33603-6.