The truth about old people - Elina Ellis

A Children's Book of the Year in The Telegraph and an Empathy Lab Read for Empathy book 2020.

A very funny and lovable picture book tribute to grandparents and older people.

When you're small, everybody bigger than you seems really old. But does being older have to mean being boring, or slow, or quiet? NO! Elina Ellis' wonderful illustrations reveal that the age you are makes no difference to how amazing you can be.

From the winner of the Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2017, The Truth About Old People is an instant favourite with children and grown-ups that tackles ageism without being preachy. Elina has a great talent for characterful illustration: you'll feel like you've known this family all your life.

Elina Ellis loves drawing pictures and imagining stories. Originally from Ukraine, she currently lives and works in Cambridge, where she recently graduated with an MA in Children's Books Illustration. Elina draws both digitally and using traditional media, creating her own books and illustrating for others. In 2017 she won the Macmillan Prize for Illustration for The Truth About Old People.

Ellis's noisy, bright, dynamic pages, filled with grandparents riding rollercoasters, smooching, dancing and flipping whole stackfuls of pancakes, assert that the elderly, too, can be anarchically amazing.
The Guardian

This is a defiantly upbeat book . . . grandparents are the rising stars of children's fiction - and this simple, touching story shows why - 5 stars, Book of the Week
Saturday Telegraph

This is one of those picture books that make wonderful use of the way children read illustrations while adults read words aloud.
The New York Times

Ellis tackles ageism and celebrates older people . . . Her art, reminiscent of Sara Ogilvie has a real joyful energy.
Bookseller

Original and brilliant manifesto, for young readers, on how strong, dynamic, crazy and valuable grandmas and grandpas are.
i News

Ellis's illustrations exude movement and energy and the expressive faces really bring the characters to life.
The School Librarian

This is good fun to read and to look at, and could spark some interesting conversations on the fun or embarrassing things that grandparents do
Books For Keeps

A delightful read-aloud that celebrates grandparents and the special bond they share with their grandchildren
School Library Journal