By writing this book, the author hopes to make kids not only feel "normal," about living with their grandparents, but to feel special in a way that makes them excited and proud. There are notable props given to the grandmas who are doing it all: working, caring for their grands, cleaning, cooking, bathing, doctors, dentists, when they were supposed to be traveling and relaxing during their silver and golden years! The author isn't intentionally excluding grandfathers, but the story told is a true story about their situation. And the implication is there: grandparents are the heroes. Plus, there are indeed a lot of single/divorced grandmas doing it alone.
The author gently touches on the often sensitive subject of why a child may be living with their grandparents and hopes that it will start a conversation within their own families. Every situation is different. If there was a way to be all-inclusive, the book would have been written as such. But there are just too many variables that can make for a kinship.
While the book is directed towards kids being raised by grandparents (there are VERY few books like this to which these kids can relate), the belief is that any child will enjoy this story (and enjoy the game of trying to find Salem on most of the pages).