September 7 – National Grandparent’s Day

Happy Grandparent’s Day

Here are a few great picture books about grandparents that I don’t think I’ve featured  on this blog, yet. Hope you find something you like here.

When You Visit Grandma and Grandpa written by Anne Bowen and illustrated by Tomek Bogacki (2004)

A little girl tells her baby brother all about visiting Grandma and Grandpa. She talks about the long car trip to their house and the magic tricks Grandpa does. She tells him about splashing in the rain puddles with Grandma and playing hide and seek until way past dark. She tells him about singing songs in the car and watching the cars and trucks rush past, then jumping into Grandma and Grandpa’s arms when you finally get there. And she finishes her long story with ‘ANYTIME is the BEST TIME to visit our Grandma and Grandpa.’

Grandma written and illustrated by Jessica Shepherd (2014)

This is a brand new story about a little boy’s understanding of his grandma who is starting to forget things. Grandma has to live in a home with other old people and he is a little afraid to visit her there, but he sees how much better his grandma is doing there. She can’t do a lot of things that she used to be able to do with him, but she is still the best grandma in the world.

When a Grandpa Says “I Love You” written by Douglas Wood and illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell (2014)

Grandpas don’t say “I love you” in the regular way. These animal grandpas say it by taking you for crepes suzette, or by messing up your hair, or teaching you how to wink. Other grandpas say it by showing you how to tie you laces, holding your hand when you cross the street, or giving you a stand ovation when you do a cartwheel. There are so many more ways that a grandpa says “I love you”, but the best of all is just by being… your grandpa!

What Will You Be, Grandma? written by Nanette Newman and illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark (2011)

Grandma thinks she’s already grown up, but Lily says “Oh no, you’ve still a long way to go.” Lily has lots of suggestions. Grandma can be an artist who paints children’s faces, or a special doctor who gives people magic kisses to feel better, or a gardener who grows vegetables that taste like chocolate cake and strawberry ice cream. Grandma can grow wings and fly, or cast magic spells that keeps rooms from getting messy. But Grandma has her own idea, she wants to be ‘a lady with a little granddaughter named Lily who she loves from the top of her head to the tips of her toes’. Lily agrees, she’ll be very good at that.

Tea with Grandpa written and illustrated by Barney Saltzberg (2014)

Simple and Sweet! This little book tells a story of a little girl and her grandpa who have tea everyday at half past three. The reader doesn’t know until the end of the book, that they are having tea via internet. The little girl pours tea at home and chats with grandpa who is also at home having tea, the whole conversation is taking place online.