written by Natalia Sylvester, illustrated by Juana Medina
Special days to honor grandparents are found in countries throughout the world. In the U.S., Grandparents’ Day is celebrated the first or second Sunday (whichever one comes after Labor Day). I wanted to start creating a list of some special books to share for celebrating grandparents, for whatever day it is and wherever in the world you may be. Hope these books can be a helpful start. I was surprised by just how many picture books out there feature grandparents! I feel like I only got to read a fraction of what’s available, but these are the 10 that resonated the most for me out of the stacks I got from the library. I’m looking forward to adding as I find more!
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When a young girl’s abuela comes to visit, Abuela brings many maletas (suitcases) filled with things like candies and cozy blankets, story books and pictures. The girl and her abuela enjoy many memories together before it’s time for Abuela to return home. And the young girl makes sure her abuela doesn’t leave with empty suitcases.
This sweet story is such a delight to see the excitement and connection between the girl and her grandma. I love that Abuela is able to share parts of her home and culture by bringing new foods and smells along with her. And I adore that the young girl wants to return the favor by sharing parts of her home with Abuela and cousins as well.
(1979, 2018) by Taro Gomi
Yumi and Grandma live on opposite sides of town, and on this particular day, they both separately decide they’d love to see one another. Sadly though, their timing just doesn’t seem to line up. But neither Grandma nor Yumi are going to let this get in their way!
Only a small fraction of Taro Gomi’s books have been translated to English, but you most likely will recognize his style and art. Taro Gomi (of the Everyone Poops fame) has created such fun and simple storytelling that will appeal to all readers.
written by Arthur A Levine, illustrated by Katie Kath
Grandpa and Noah have a blast hanging out, taking walks, making breakfasts, singing together. But lately, Grandpa is forgetting even the most basic things – how to cut his toast, what the usual routines are, and even who Noah is. But singing their old favorites seems to jog Grandpa’s memory, and suddenly he’s back. Even if it’s for a short while.
While this book covers a very real and serious topic and it tugs at my heart, it’s done in an authentic, but “light” way. I love the way the illustrator chose to represent these forgetful moments, and I love the new connection Noah forms with his grandma as Grandpa’s memory fades. I also love the powerful reminder of what a healer music can be. I’ve seen first-hand how a person’s memory can be brought back through song, and it is an incredible thing.
written by Ruth Forman, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa
Love it at the core of this short, but beautiful poem as a grandmother shows her granddaughter the ways they “got love, like so.” While the words themselves took warming up to for me, the illustrations are SO incredibly gorgeous that I kept coming back to this book and came to appreciate the whole, lovely package. I feel like the visible swirls of love surrounding the girl at the end can be interpreted in many different ways.
I love that this book has introduced me to Raissa Figueroa and her amazing art.
By Inbal Leitner
A young girl’s family is moving far away from the grandma she grew up near. As the girl draws maps and makes fabric airplanes so her grandma can find her way to her, the grandma is in her sewing shop making a lovely coat for the girl and reminding her that they will always be connected.
This picture book of experiencing the sadness of being far away from a grandparent is told so sweetly and has a simple, heart-happy ending.
written by Tanya Rosie, illutrated by Chuck Groenink
A young girl’s grandpa is visiting, and although she’s a bit shy, she can’t wait to show him so many things. Even though the girl speaks only English and her grandpa speaks only Farsi (Persian), they form a beautiful, heartwarming bond. I adore seeing them together.
by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Mimi is coming over and her granddaughter is entranced and delighted by all the treasures in her grandma’s purse. Watching the young girl put on lipstick and sunglasses and fix her Mimi’s hair makes my heart swell. I love the girl’s excitement at not only seeing all the fun items, but also actually dressing the part of her grandma. And the gift at the end is just wonderful. What a delightful book!
written by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith
A young boy spends his before and after school hours with his Baba. And while it doesn’t seem like Baba and the boy speak the same language, he watches the way she kisses his food that falls, the way she picks up worms in the rain to add to her garden, the beautiful vegetables she grows. And when Baba is too old to live alone and moves in with the boy’s family, we see the way he quietly cares for her by remembering and passing along the way she’s always done things.
by Barney Saltzberg
A young girl and her grandpa meet for tea every afternoon. We get to see how they interact during their tea parties, and there’s a lovely 21st century twist at the end.
I am a sucker for anything tea party-related, and I love that this book is a light-hearted, fun connection between granddaughter and grandfather.
by Patricia Polacco
I came across this treasure somewhere along the way in my adult life. It must have made an impression, because when the summer storms started rolling in when our oldest was a baby, I immediately thought of it. Thundercake is every bit as darling as I remember it.
The story tells of a young girl afraid of the approaching thunder. Her grandma coaxes her out from under the bed by promising they will make “thunder cake.” As the two gather ingredients for the cake, the girl proves her bravery by facing some of her other fears. The book ends with some delicious cake and hot tea amidst the rumbling storm.
This book is definitely more text-heavy than some picture books, so keep that in mind before sitting down to read it. But it is definitely worth it!
We’ve baked our own “thunder cake” on many occasions. Sometimes I hide the ingredients in corners of the house or porch for us to go find, just like the girl in the book. (There is a recipe included in the book, but I usually use bake one that doesn’t have any shortening.)
Grandparents’ Day can be a great time to snuggle up with one of these books, whether with a grandparent or to keep them in our hearts.
Other ideas for Grandparents’ Day:
- invite grandparent(s) over for dinner or for an outing
- schedule a FaceTime or phone call with grandparent(s)
- take out photos of grandparent(s), share stories, cook favorite recipes
- light a candle for a grandparent who has passed