Grandparents Day is coming up, and what better way to celebrate than with children’s books? For those who are not sure where to start, here are the best of the best children’s books with the sweet love of a grandparent on full display.
Children’s Books For Grandparents Day 2021
Octopus Stew
Summary from Amazon Children’s Books:
What do you do when an octopus captures Grandma? Put on your superhero cape and rescue her! Two stories in one from award-winning Afro-Latino artist Eric Velasquez.
The octopus Grandma is cooking has grown to titanic proportions. “¡Tenga cuidado!” Ramsey shouts. “Be careful!” But it’s too late. The octopus traps Grandma! Ramsey must use both art and intellect to free his beloved abuela.
Then the story takes a surprising twist. And it can be read two ways. Open the fold-out pages to find Ramsey telling a story to his family. Keep the pages folded, and Ramsey’s octopus adventure is real.
This beautifully illustrated picture book, drawn from the author’s childhood memories, celebrates creativity, heroism, family, grandmothers, grandsons, Puerto Rican food, Latinx culture and more.
With an author’s note and the Velasquez family recipe for Octopus Stew! Now also available in Spanish!
If Grandma Were Here
Summary from Amazon Children’s Books:
If Grandma were here, what would you do together? Would you sing a song? Go on an amazing adventure? Or give each other a giant hug?
See what special things grandmas and grandkids do together!
This treasure chest of memories is a perfect way for kids and parents who miss their grandma to remember her kindness and her love.
Big Papa & The Time Machine
Summary from Amazon Children’s Books:
A beautiful journey into African American history: Discover the true meaning of being brave in this tender and whimsical picture book from Daniel Bernstrom (One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree; Gator, Gator, Gator) and Shane Evans (Chocolate Me!) that follows a grandfather and grandson traveling through time and discovering their own African American history.
When a little boy is feeling afraid to go to school one day, his grandfather, Big Papa, takes him away in his time machine—a 1952 Ford—back to all of the times when he was scared of something life was handing him. “That’s called being brave,” Big Papa says over and over.
Full of heartfelt moments and thrilling magical realism, Big Papa and the Time Machine speaks to the African American experience in a touching dialogue between two family members from different generations and emerges as a voice that shares history and asks questions about one family’s experience in 20th-century black America.
“Wasn’t you scared?”
“Oh, I was scared,” Big Papa said. “Sometimes you gotta walk with giants if you ever gonna know what you made of. That’s called being brave.”
Grandpa Grumps
Summary from Amazon Children’s Books:
Daisy’s Yeh-Yeh is visiting from China, and try as she might, Daisy can’t get her grumpy grandpa to smile!
Daisy’s Yeh-Yeh is visiting for the first time from China, and Daisy is so excited to meet him! She has big plans for all the fun they’ll have together, like tea parties and snow angels, but when Yeh-Yeh arrives, Daisy finds him less jolly than she imagined. Throughout the week, she tries all sorts of things to get him past his grumpiness. Will she be able to make him smile before he goes home?
Kids will love this funny and heartwarming story about overcoming cultural differences and connecting across generations!
Grandma, I Got This!
Summary from Amazon Children’s Books:
JJ is a young and energetic boy. He learns valuable life lessons taught by his adoring and wise grandmother. JJ puts these lessons into action! He shares his toys and counts his blessings. JJ makes his grandmother proud. Will JJ remember these lessons when Grandma goes away? What can you learn from Grandma?
Federico & The Wolf
Summary from Amazon Children’s Books:
Clever Federico outsmarts el lobo in this fresh and funny Mexican-American take on Little Red Riding Hood.
With his red hoodie on and his bicycle basket full of food, Federico is ready to visit Abuelo. But on the way, he meets a hungry wolf. And now his grandfather bears a striking resemblance to el lobo. Fortunately, Federico is quick and clever—and just happens to be carrying a spicy surprise! Federico drives the wolf away, and he and Abuelo celebrate with a special salsa. Recipe included.
Max & The Tag-Along Moon
Summary from Amazon Children’s Books:
Experience the wonder of the moon following you home with a Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator! Great for Father’s Day and Grandparent’s Day!
Max loves his grandpa. When they must say good-bye after a visit, Grandpa promises Max that the moon at Grandpa’s house is the same moon that will follow him all the way home. On that swervy-curvy car ride back to his house, Max watches as the moon tags along. But when the sky darkens and the moon disappears behind clouds, he worries that it didn’t follow him home after all. Where did the moon go—and what about Grandpa’s promise?
Floyd Cooper received the Coretta Scott King Award for The Blacker the Berry, three Coretta Scott King Honors for Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea, Meet Danitra Brown, and I Have Heard of a Land, and an NAACP image award. In Max and the Tag-Along Moon, his lush paintings perfectly capture the wonder of the moon, the love between grandfather and grandson, and that feeling of magic every child experiences when the moon follows him home..
Nana Akua Goes to School
Summary from Amazon Children’s Books:
Winner of the 2021 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award!
In this moving story that celebrates cultural diversity, a shy girl brings her West African grandmother–whose face bears traditional tribal markings–to meet her classmates. This is a perfect read for back to school!
It is Grandparents Day at Zura’s elementary school, and the students are excited to introduce their grandparents and share what makes them special. Aleja’s grandfather is a fisherman. Bisou’s grandmother is a dentist. But Zura’s Nana, who is her favorite person in the world, looks a little different from other grandmas. Nana Akua was raised in Ghana, and, following an old West African tradition, has tribal markings on her face. Worried that her classmates will be scared of Nana–or worse, make fun of her–Zura is hesitant to bring her to school. Nana Akua knows what to do, though. With a quilt of traditional African symbols and a bit of face paint, Nana Akua is able to explain what makes her special, and to make all of Zura’s classmates feel special, too.
We Became Jaguars
Summary from Amazon Children’s Books:
Revel in the breathtaking fantasticality of We Became Jaguars—a picture book from bestselling author Dave Eggers.
When Grandma comes to visit and a young boy’s parents leave, the rules of the house—and the world—change: grandson and grandmother transform into jaguars! Readers follow their journey into the undiscovered world of nature, experience true freedom, and lose themselves in an exhilarating adventure. After a day of playing, running, and climbing through sumptuous landscapes, the ending will leave you wondering what’s real and what’s imagined.
• A captivating, unusual story about a child and his grandmother
• Full of lush illustrations of the natural world
• Celebrates the power of love and storytelling
Breathtaking and bold, We Became Jaguars is sure to give readers beautiful dreams.
Red Shoes
Summary from Amazon Children’s Books:
Red shoes glowing–Perched on a pedestal in the shop window as if on a throne.”I want those, Nana,” Malika says, as they pass the shop. “We’ll see,” Nana says with a wink. “Looks like you could use a new pair.”
Malika is delighted when Nana surprises her with a beautiful new pair of red shoes! And with a click-clack-click and a swish, swish, swish, Malika wears her wonderful new shoes everywhere she goes. But one day, the shoes begin to pinch Malika’s toes. And alas, they don’t let her forget that her feet have grown! Soon Malika and Nana are off to the Rare Finds Resale Shop, where the shoes can be resold — so somebody else can enjoy them! Who will be the next to wear the red shoes? Malika wonders. Then Inna Ziya buys the shoes, and readers follow the shoes all the way across the world to Ghana in Africa, where Amina, another little girl, who has fasted her first time for Ramadan is about to get an amazing gift! Karen English and Ebony Glenn have crafted a satisfying and heartwarming story about a pair of shoes, two girls, and a connection they share across continents.
One of Thirteen
Summary from Amazon Children’s Books:
Olga is an independent young girl who is proud of her large Russian immigrant family as one of thirteen children. Growing up in the 1940s, her desire for treasures sparks her sense of adventure. Going against her mother’s warning, the journey to seek a lucky penny leads Olga to near tragedy. With some help, she discovers how grateful she really is to still be One Of Thirteen.
Grandma’s Favorite
Summary from Usborne Books & More:
Whether a grandma fixes cars, goes to the gym, loves loud, silly songs, or catching bugs, time with her grandkids is what she loves most of all!
BONUS: You Choose
Summary from Usborne Books and More:
Imagine you could go anywhere, with anyone and do anything. Where would you live? Where would you sleep? Who would your friends be? This book supports speech and language development, encourages independent thinking and makes decision-making fun!
Whether reading with or about a grandparent– the experience is sure to be enjoyable with the titles up above. Make sure to let us know which books you plan to read for Grandparents Day!
