Grandparents Are Special!

by Karen G

I have a 7-year-old grandson who calls me Mimi, and we are lucky to live near each other. Even so, to cope with the Covid challenges, we have been extra careful about visiting each other, and the subzero temperatures these last weeks did not help. When we cannot be with each other, Zoom has been a great tool in bringing us together. Zoom is not the same as getting together in person but, we can still talk, read aloud, make up silly stories and play imaginary games over Zoom. My grandson tells me all the time how much he loves me, a reminder that being Mimi is my special job Lately, I’ve been checking out books about grandparents at the library. There are so many grandparent picture books that are loving, funny, thoughtful, heartfelt, and enchanting. Here are some picture books to appreciate all kinds of grandparenting.

Coquí in the city

Nomar Perez

jE/Perez

A heartfelt picture book based on the author-illustrator's own experiences, about a boy who moves to the U.S. mainland from Puerto Rico and realizes that New York City might have more in common with San Juan than he initially thought.

The cover art is so colorful! I'm looking forward to reading this one. Book is on order
- Karen G

Nana Akua goes to school

Tricia Elam Walker


Picture Books

Zura is worried about how her classmates will react to her Ghanaian Nana's tattoos on Grandparents Day, but Nana finds a way to show how special and meaningful they are.

MY Hippie Grandmother

Reeve Lindbergh

jE/Lindbergh
Picture Books

A young girl describes all the things she likes about her grandmother, including the purple bus she drives, growing vegetables, picketing City Hall, and playing the banjo.

Hey Grandude!

Paul McCartney

jE/Mccartne
Picture Books

Grandude brightens a dreary weekend for his visiting grandchildren, Lucy, Tom, Em, and Bob, by using his magic compass and postcards to take them on adventures around the world.

Where Are You From

Yamile Saied Mendez


Picture Books

"When a young girl is asked where she's from--where she's really from--she's no longer as she was. She decides to turn to her dear abuelo for some help with this ever-persistent question. But he doesn't quite give her the answer she expects."

Our Favorite Day

Joowon Oh

Follows Papa and his granddaughter as they spend another Thursday together.

Grandma's Purse

Vanessa Brantley-Newton

When Grandma Mimi comes to visit, her granddaughter cannot wait to see what treasures she has hidden in her purse.

Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa

Anna Dewdney


Picture Books

Spending the night at Gram and Grandpa's house, Llama Llama discovers that he cannot sleep because he has left Fuzzy Llama at home, but Grandpa soon comes up with a solution to replace the stuffed toy.

Nana in the City

Lauren Castillo

A young boy is frightened by how busy and noisy the city is when he goes there to visit his Nana, but she makes him a fancy red cape that keeps him from being scared as she shows him how wonderful a place it is.

Someday we will : a book for grandparents and grandchildren

Pam Webb

jE Webb

Grandparents and children anticipate their next visit by imagining all of the wonderful things they will do together, such as playing games, reading library books, and riding bicycles.

I'll be the water : a story of a grandparent's love

Alec Aspinwall

jE Aspinwal
Picture Books

Joshua and his grandfather love being together. More than anything else they love fishing. But Grandpa gets sick and is in the hospital a long time. When he gets out, he and Joshua share one more fishing adventure, and Grandpa promises Joshua that he will always be near. "Think of it this way," Grandpa says. "Today, you and I are like two fish swimming together in this lake. When I die, things will be different. I won't be a fish anymore, but I'll become something even better. My love will be like the water in the lake. You might think I'm not with you, but we'll be closer than ever because you'll be surrounded by my love."

A day at the museum

Christine A. Platt

jREADER Platt Christin
Early Readers

"It's a surprise visit! Ana & Andrew are excited when Grandma comes to visit. While she is there, the family tours the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and learns about important African American achievements"--Page [4] of cover.

Drawn Together

Minh Le

A boy and his grandfather cross a language and cultural barrier using their shared love of art, storytelling, and fantasy.

Finding Grandma's Memories

Jiyeon Pak


Picture Books

A little girl helps her grandma with her memory.

The truth about grandparents

Elina Ellis


Picture Books

A child relates strange things that might be heard about grandparents but concludes that they are amazing.

Encyclopedia of Grannies

Eric Veille


Picture Books

An offbeat, humorous book that answers all your questions about grandmas-especially the ones you never thought to ask: Why do grannies always tell us to speak up? Why do they have creases on their faces? Are grannies flexible? How do you cheer up a sad granny? Exactly how old are grannies anyway?

My Grandparents Love Me

Claire Freedman


Picture Books

A visit to Gran and Grandpa's house is always a special and fun time for a child.

A Stopwatch from Grampa

Loretta Garbutt


Picture Books

A sensitive portrayal of loss and grief, told through a grandchild's inheritance of a stopwatch that belonged to Grampa. In this touching debut picture book about the loss of a beloved grandfather, author Loretta Garbutt explores the stages of grief with a delicate hand. The story opens with our narrator inheriting a stopwatch. For the grandchild, the object carries many cherished memories. "Grampa used to time everything. He timed me when I ran to the end of our street and back. Best speed, 24 seconds." As the year passes, and the seasons change, our narrator slowly moves through the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance). At first, the stopwatch is a painful reminder of Grampa. But in time, our character finds a special way to honor Grampa and carry forward his traditions.

A plan for Pops

Heather Smith

jE Smith
Picture Books

"In this illustrated picture book, a child helps their grandparents deal with a difficult change in abilities."--

Grandparents

Chema Heras

jE Heras
Picture Books

"In this funny and heartwarming picture book, a grandfather shows his love and appreciation for a grandmother as he persuades her to attend a local dance with him. Grandfather is tending his garden when a loudspeaker announces a dance in the local park. He asks Grandmother to join him, but she has many reasons to delay their outing: she needs to put eyeliner around her eyes--which are as sad as a moonless night--and color in her hair--which is as gray as an autumn cloud. Grandfather counters with loving arguments of his own: her sad eyes look like stars and her hair is as perfect and white as a summer cloud. Playful illustrations complement this touching banter, which culminates in a trip to the dance where Grandmother tells Grandfather, "You are as pretty as the moon.""--