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Books about Grandparents and Elders for Children

Abuela, Arthour Dorros.(1991) Puffin Books, NY.
A magical story about a child who wonders what would happen if "I could fly." The illustrations give New York a festive look as Rosalba and her Abuela fly, spinning and sailing over the city together.

Abuela’s Weave, Omar S. Castaneda.(1993) Lee & Low Books, New York.
A young Guatemalan girl and her grandmother grow closer as they weave some special creations and then make the trip to the market in hopes of selling them. A story rich in culture, history and family tradition.

Agatha’s Feather Bed: Not Just Another Wild Goose Story, Carmen Agra Deedy.(1991) Peachtree Publishers, Ltd., Atlanta.
Agatha says, “Everything comes from something, Nothing comes from nothing.” The geese who gave her the feathers for her new bed challenge her to give back something in return.

All the Places to Love, Patricia MacLachlan.(1994) Harper Collins, Publishers.
A young boy describes the favorite places that he shares with his family on his grandparents’ farm. When he was first born, his grandmother showed him the places to love, and his grandfather carved his name “on a rafter beside his name, grandmother’s name and the names of my papa and mama.” When his little sister is born the same ritual occurs, and he knows he will help show her all those wonderful places to love.

Annie and the Old One,Miska Miles.(1971) Little, Brown and Company, Boston.
Annie, a Navaho girl, struggles to understand the cycle of life as her beloved grandmother ages and gets ready to “go back to the earth.”

Dumpling Soup, Jama Kim Rattigan.(1993) Little, Brown and Company, Boston.
A young Hawaiian girl tries to make dumplings for her family’s New Year’s celebration with the special encouragement of her grandma. Recipe for Dumpling Soup included.

Emma, Wendy Kesselman.(1980)Barnes and Noble Books.
Emma discovers how painting pictures of the places and people she loves helps her not to feel lonely.

A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead, Nancy Luenn.(1998)Northland Publishers, Flagstaff, Arizona.
After her beloved grandmother dies, Rosita hopes to be reunited with Abuelita as she prepares a gift to give her when her family celebrates the Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos). The story is told in both Spanish and English.

Grandad Bill's Song Jane Yolen. 1994)A Paperstar Book.
The answers to Jon's question "What did you do on the day Grandad died?" help him understand a life well-lived and realize that Grandad Bill lives on in many memories. It shares feelings of sadness, anger, denial and finally acceptance appropriate for a child experiencing the death of a loved one.

Granddaddy’s Gift, Margaree King Mitchell.(1997)BridgeWater Paperback.
It is set during the Civil Rights time when “colored” folks had to struggle for their rights to vote. When her grandfather registers to vote while living in segregated Mississippi, an African-American girl begins to understand why he insists that she attend school.

Grandfather's Dream, Holly Keller. (1994) Greenwillow Books, NY.
After the end of the war in Vietnam, a young boy's grandfather dreams of restoring the wetlands of the Mekong Delta, hoping that the large cranes that once lived there will return. Everyone, except the child, Nam, tries to discourage the grandfather from his dream.

Grandfather's Journey, Allen Say. (1993) Houghton Mifflin Co., NY.
A moving reminisce of Allen Say's grandfather's early years in Japan, his growing up in America, and his return to his homeland. Grandfather dreamed of returning to see California, but a war began, ending that dream. Allen Say went to California in his grandfather's stead. And, like his grandfather, when he is in one country he invariably misses the other.

Grandfather's Story, Brenda Lena Fazio. (1996) Sasquatch Books, Seattle, Washington.
A dream reminds grandfather of how much he has yet to share with his grandson. The story is an eloquent and powerful tale of memory and love. The illustrations resonate with the simplicity of the Japanese poem that inspired the story.

Grandma According to Me, Karen Magnuson Beil. (1992) Dell Publishing; New York.
A young girl tells about her grandmother from her perspective. She tells about cookie baking, piano playing, story telling - the granddaughter-grandmother bond from her experience.

Grandma Lois Remembers: An African-American Family Story, Ann Morris. (2002) The Millbrook Press, Brookfield, Connecticut.

Grandma Maxine Remembers: A Native American Family Story, by Ann Morris. (2002) The Millbrook Press, Brookfield, Connecticut.

Grandma Susan Remembers: A British-American Family Story, by Ann Morris. (2002) The Millbrook Press, Brookfield, Connecticut.
These three “grandma” books share the stories of the cultures of the families as told by the grandmothers. Family ethnic history and activities unique to the cultures are included.

Grandmother's Dreamcatcher Becky Ray McCain. (1998) Albert Whitman & Co, Morton Grove, IL.
A Chippeawa child spends a week with her grandmother in a cabin in the woods. The child, Kimmy, misses her parents and experiences bad dreams. Grandmother shares the legend of the dream-catcher and the power it holds. Together, with a bent twig, feather, beads and leather, they make one for Kimmy.

Grandmother's Pigeon, Louise Erdrich. (1999) Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, N.Y.
A story of magic. Grandmother hitches a ride on a porpoise, leaving behind a nest of eggs that hatch into passenger pigeons. From the back cover: "Like the pigeons, this is a rare bird -- a book that evokes wonder, in both it's meanings."

Grandmother’s Song, Barbara Soros. (1998) Barefoot Books, Brooklyn, NY.
In the mountains of Mexico, a grandmother passes the seasons with her granddaughter. The granddaughter grows up and when her grandmother dies she teaches her own children the lessons taught by her grandmother. “My Little ones, listen well. Grandmother’s spirit is all around us. She is in the wind and in the trees........ She is always there when we are with warm friends, when we taste delicious food, and whenever there is carefree laughter or salty tears are shed. No matter where we are, grandmother is never far away.”

Grandpa Bud, Siobhan Dodds. (1993) Chadwick Press.
A grandfather busily prepares all kinds of food for his granddaughter and the guests he thinks she is bringing to visit him. Sweet ending!

Grandpa's Face, Eloise Greenfield. (1988) The Trumpet Club.
Tamika, a little girl, loves her grandpa and knows he loves her. When she sees him making "mean" faces while practicing for a play part, she wonders if he would look like that with her. Through one of their "talk-walks," she grows emotionally by sharing her feelings and learning from Grandpa.

Grandpa’s Town, Takaaki Nomura. (1991) Kane/Miller Book Publishers, Brooklyn, NY.
A young Japanese boy, worried that his grandfather is lonely, accompanies him to the public bath. Written in both Japanese and English, the story takes the grandfather and his grandson all over town to meet grandfather’s many friends. Grandfather’s of community is vibrant, alive and very loving.

Home to Medicine Mountain, Chiori Santiago. (1998) Children’s Book Press, San Francisco, CA.
Two young Maidu Indian brothers sent to a government-run Indian residential school in California in the 1930’s find a way to escape and return home for the summer. Grandmother’s stories are retold in their dreams and help give them the courage to make the long journey.

Keepers, Jeri Hanel Watts and Felicia Marshall. (1997) Lee & Low Books, NY.
After Kenyon squanders the money he saved for his grandmother’s birthday present, he searches for another special gift. The present he makes for her is a treasured a gift of himself.

Laura Charlotte, Kathryn O. Galbraith. (1990) Philomel Books.
Passing down stories and treasures (a toy elephant) from generation to generation.

Liliana's Grandmothers, Leyla Torres. (1998) Farrar Straus Giroux, NY.
One grandmother, Mimi, lives down the street in Liliana's New England town. Another, Mama Gabina, lives in South America. The grandmothers' food, their pets, their stories, and even their languages are different, but both grandmothers have a place in Leyla's heart.

The Lotus Seed, Tatsuro Kiuchi. (1993) Harcourt Brace & Co.
A beautifully illustrated book set in the time of the Vietnam War. A child’s grandmother leaves her troubled land and immigrates to the U.S. She brings a lotus seed from her homeland. She explains “It is the flower of life and hope.”

Mei-Mei Loves the Morning, Margaret Holloway Tsubakiyama. (1999) Albert Whitman & Co, Morton Grove, IL.
A young Chinese girl and her grandfather enjoy a breakfast of rice porridge and pickled vegetables. They later enjoy a morning ride on Grandpa's bicycle to meet friends in the park, sharing the sound of their songbirds and the graceful movement of tai-chi.

Miss Tizzy, Libba Moore Gray. (1993) Simon & Schuste NY.
The eccentric Miss Tizzy, a beloved friend to all children in her neighborhood, needs their help in remaining happy when she is sick in bed.

Morning on the Lake, Jan Waboose. (1997) Kids Can Press, Tonawanda, NY.
A contemporary Ojibway child and his grandfather spend a day together, exploring the quiet of a lake, the silence of the forest and the beauty seen from atop grandfather's special place.

My Grandfather's House, Bruce Coville. (1997) BridgeWater Paperback.
When grandpa dies, a young boy is full of questions and memories of the times they have shared. He attends an open-casket funeral with his family. Comforting and simply wrought, this is a book for families to share.

My Grandpa and the Sea, Katherine Orr. (1990) Carolrhoda Books, Minneapolis.
When grandpa, a traditional fisherman, is forced from his livelihood because increasingly efficient technology has depleted his island’s supply of fish, he creates an ecologically sound solution by starting a seamoss farm.

Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs, by Tomie DePaola. (1973) G.P. Putnam’s Sons, NY.
Four year old Tommy enjoys his relationship with both his grandmother and great-grandmother, but eventually learns to face their inevitable deaths.

The Napping House, Audrey Wood. (1984) Harcourt, Inc., San Diego.
Grandma takes a nap on a grey, rainy day. Everyone else does too until a flea changes a sleepy day into an active one! 

No Mirrors in My Nana’s House, Ysaye M. Barnwell. (1998) Harcourt Brace & Co. NY.
A girl discovers the beauty in herself by looking into her grandmother’s eyes. CD included by Sweet Honey in the Rock.

Now One Foot , Now the Other,  Tomie DePaola. (1981) Putnam, NY.
When his grandfather suffers a stroke, Bobby teaches him to walk, just as his grandfather had once taught him. The story tells of a loving, caring and respectful relationship between generations.

Our Granny, Margaret Wild. (1993) Ticknor & Fields Books, N.Y.
Grannies come in all shapes and sizes, with all sorts of interests and activities, but our granny is special to us and we love her!

Sitti's Secrets, Naomi Shihab Nye. (1997) Aladdin Picture Books, Illustrator Nancy Carpenter.
An American girl remembers her Palestinian grandmother and the time they shared during a visit to Palestine. Lovely illustrations and a well communicated sense of emotional connection between distant worlds.

Song and Dance Man, Karen Ackerman. (1989) Scholastic Inc. Caldecott Medal Award.
While Grandma cooks dinner, Grandpa, THE SONG and DANCE Man, takes his three grandchildren to the attic to enjoy his routines, memories and participate in the play. He did it in the days before TV!

Storm in the Night, Mary Stolz. (1988) Harper Trophy Press.
While sitting through a fearsome thunderstorm that has put the lights out, Thomas hears a story from Grandfather’s boyhood, when Grandfather was afraid of thunderstorms too.

Two Mrs. Gibsons, Toyomi Igus. (1996) Children’s Book Press, San Francisco, CA.
The biracial daughter of an African American father and a Japanese mother fondly recalls growing up with her mother and her father’s mother, two very different but equally loving women. “They both loved my daddy and they both loved me.”

Uncle Jed’s Barbershop, Margaree King Mitchell. (1993) First Aladdin Paperbacks, NY.
Despite serious obstacles and setbacks Sarah Jean’s favorite Uncle Jed, the only black barber in the county, pursues his dream of saving enough money to open his own barbershop.

A Walk in the Rain, Ursel Scheffler. (1984) G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
Josh loved rainy days. He goes for a walk in the rain with his grandmother, wearing his new rainwear, and together they discover all sorts of wonderful things outside in the rain.

The Wednesday Surprise, Eve Bunting. (1989) Clarion Books, N.Y.
Wednesday nights are special times when Grandma stays with Anna. Every week they lug her heavy bag upstairs and spend the evening preparing a birthday surprise for Anna’s daddy. Finally the birthday arrives and imagine their delight when they share their surprise with the family!

What's Happening to Grandpa?, Maria Shriver. (2004) Time Warner Book Group.
A true story, told about Sargent Shriver and his granddaughter Kate who learns about his Alzheimer's Disease. It offers a realistic, but reassuring, glimpses into the ways everyone in a family can ease the burden of the struggle.

When I Am Old with You, Angela Johnson. (1990) Orchard Books, New York.
An African-American child imagines being old with Grandaddy and joining him in such activities as playing cards all day, visiting the ocean, and eating bacon on the porch. A loving portrayal of the special grandparent-grandchild relationship.

When I Was Young in the Mountains, Cynthia Ryland. (1982). A Unicorn Paperback (Caldecott Honor Book/Reading Rainbow).
A young girl and her brother share memories of "When I was young in the
mountains..." that tell about the life and times shared with their grandmother and grandfather.

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, Mem Fox. (1985) Kane/Miller Book Publishers.
Humorously told, a young boy tries to discover the meaning of "memory" so he can restore it for an elderly friend.

The Worry Stone, Marianna Dengler.(1996) Rising Moon from Northland Publishing, Flagstaff Arizona.
When a small, serious boy joins Amanda on the park bench, she remembers that once she was small and serious too, but she had Grandfather - and his wonderful stories. He had told her the Chumash Indian legend about how the worry stone brings comfort to those who are troubled. Stories told together also bring comfort as they are shared.