Sweet Kids' Books About Grandparents & Grandchildren

Hannah Scott:  This story by Patricia Polacco was one of my very favorites growing up. I still love reading about the little girl who is afraid of an impending storm and her wise Babushka (grandmother) who helps her think of it as an opportunity for something wonderful — thunder cake! The recipe is included in the back of the book so you can recreate the story in your own home.

Hannah Scott:  This fun story by Jean Reagan puts a new spin on the endlessly fun time at Grandma’s house, offering advice for activities, food, sleeping arrangements, and more when a child “babysits” their Grandma.

Hannah Scott:  This Caldecott Medal winner by Allen Say is all about the history of the author’s grandfather, who journeyed back and forth between Japan and California. I love the way this story can segue into a conversation about genealogy and family history, even with young kids!

Hannah Scott:  This darling lift-the-flap interactive book by Karen Katz is a current favorite in my house, since my toddler is head over heels for his grandpa! The story describes the process of grandpa making pizza with his grandchild, and finding everything they need under the flaps.

Hannah Scott:  If you’ve never read this adorable story by Sandra Horning, check it out pronto!! Little Owen wants to send a giant hug to his granny who lives far away, so he addresses an envelope to her and hugs the mail carrier with instructions to pass it on — which he does, from one postal worker to the next!

Vanessa M.:  If your Grandmother hasn't cut her hair since 1969 and drives a purple bus, you might have a hippie grandmother on your hands. This sweet book shows that not all grandmothers wear a bun and knit in rocking chairs. This hippie grandma is a go-getter with lots of peace and love to share!

Hannah Scott:  Todd Parr is known for his vivid, simple illustrations and stories, and The Grandpa Book is no exception. This story acts more like a glossary of the types of grandfathers you might encounter: “Some grandpas send you cards.....Some grandpas wiggle their ears.....Some grandpas take you to school....”

Hannah Scott:  As a musician and a lover of bluegrass music, I absolutely love Banjo Granny by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and Sarah Martin Busse. Granny finds out that her far-away grandson loves bluegrass, so she sets out on an impossible journey (with banjo in tow) to play him a special song she wrote just for him. The sheet music to the song is included in the book as well!

Hannah Scott:  If your family lives far away from grandparents, this story by Julia Inserro may strike a chord with you. Beanie misses her Nonni terribly, but they find that they have something they can both count on regardless of the distance between them — the moon!

Hannah Scott:  This story by Todd Parr makes me smile, since it starts out by declaring that some grandmas have a lot of purses, which mine definitely does! He goes on to describe all different types of grandmas, accompanied by his trademark colorful, doodle-style illustrations.

Hannah Scott:  In this story by Missy Griffin, Gigi’s granddaughter comes to visit in New York City and is overjoyed to spend time doing all of the activities they’d planned — and then gets sick. What a bummer! She spends her visit with Gigi looking out the window and people watching together in the big city instead.

Alexandra F.:  My preschooler loves the Little Bear series by Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak, and this one is his absolute favorite. Little Bear goes to visit Grandmother and Grandfather Bear, and spends the day eating their tasty food, listening to their wonderful stories, and enjoying quiet time with them. It's a really sweet story about the relationship between a grandkid (or, grandbear!) and his grandparents, and one that definitely resonates with my little guy. It's also a great book for kids who are learning to read.

Hannah Scott:  In this installment of the The Ladybug Girl series by Jacky Davis and David Soman, Ladybug Girl visits the natural history museum with her grandfather — who patiently guides her along and reminds her that learning doesn’t happen in just one day, but over the course of a lifetime.

Hannah Scott:  Any Daniel Tiger fans out there? This story based one of our favorite cartoons for kids describes Daniel’s trip to see his Grandpere and give him the picture he drew of them together. Unfortunately, he loses the picture before getting to Grandpere’s house and has to find a new way to show how much he cares.

Sarah Calamita:  If you have a Paul McCartney loving Grandpa, this is the cutest little book for him to read to the grandkids.