Grandparents Day is coming up in a blink. September 8, 2020. My four kiddos are lucky to have four grandparents to love on them, spoil them, sprinkle them with little gifts, sneak them extra candy and take them on special adventures. I didn’t have that kind of relationship with my grandparents growing up, and it is so, SO beautiful to see my kids interact with my parents and in-laws.
We live near my parents, so my kids get to have everyday moments with their grandparents. Today, for example, Motor is at Costco with my parents (likely convincing them to buy all sorts of crap food).
If you celebrate, I’d love to hear how you show love to the grandparents in your kiddos’ lives.
Here are beautiful picture books that celebrate the joy of grandparents!
Sam Usher’s Rain, Snow, Storm and Sun are gorgeous! These illustrations are insane. I love this little boy and the adventures he and his grandpa get into.
It’s Good to Have a Grandma by Maryann Macdonald is allllll the grandmas out there. Every page of this darling book had me nodding my head saying, ‘yup, true, that’s accurate.’
They can spend hours looking at goldfish and lightsabers and jewelry boxes with fairies inside. They know choosing takes time.
Maryann Macdonald, It’s Good to Be a Grandma
Well if that isn’t the truth?! Every mom would be huffing and grinning while gritting her teeth waiting…and waiting…and waiting. Thank you, grandmas everywhere.
Silas’ Seven Grandparents by Anita Horrocks is FUN! This is a cute story for anyone, but especially kiddos who have more than a few grandparents. Perhaps families where grandparents remarried. What is extra special about this is how much diversity the author and illustrator pull in. LOVE that!
When I Found Grandma by Saumiya Balasubramaniam is so heartwarming and might speak to any families who practice a slightly more modern take on customs/religion/culture and the trickiness when a grandparents visits with more traditional practices. The illustrations are so sweet. Like, so. sweet. This book also mentions Holi, the festival of colors. Something I know very little of, but learned a little bit from a beautiful book I shared on Instagram.
With Love, Grandma by Helen Foster James shares the lovely little letters a grandma sends to her grandchild while she’s on her trip. She’s so excited to host Camp Grandma when she returns. My big two went to Grandparent Camp this summer with my in-laws and loved every minute (and didn’t miss me for a second).
The Bagel King by Andrew Larsen spoke to me not just because it’s a tale of a grandfather and grandchild but because they have a standing Sunday tradition. In this case, they go to a local deli and get bagels and the fixings. I love that idea and hope my kiddos have something like that as they grow up. Eli cooks up a plan to help when Zaida is injured and can’t participate in the weekly outing. So cute!
Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo is more than just a grandkiddo staying the weekend at his grandma’s place. This is about being somewhere so completely different from what you know. Different isn’t bad. It’s all in how you see it. I love these illustrations!
Grandma’s Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood is the illustration of inclusion. Everyone is invited for a big holiday potluck. This is a sweet counting book, but also served as a good reminder that the more, the merrier at holidays. And everyday. Except don’t interrupt my late night reading time.
A Morning with Grandpa by Sylvia Liu shows the beauty of both grandfather and granddaughter teaching the other something valuable. Gong Gong is trying to help Mei Mei learn tai chi; she tries to teach him yoga. This is a fantastic message.
Tea with Grandpa by Barney Saltzberg is darling on it’s own but it is especially spot-on during this pandemic. Granddaughter and grandpa meet for tea everyday. What a sweet tradition, right? However, they do this via computer. This made me think of our out-of-state family members.
What grandparent book do you love? Message me!