Grandparents. My generation often had at least one grandparent living with them, and I look back at the memories with a great deal of nostalgia and longing. I try to make sure my daughter has precious memories of her grandparents too – visiting them in vacations, and calling them up regularly. Many children’s books celebrate this bond between grandparents and grandchildren. In honor of National Grandparents Day, pick up one of these books to read with your grand kids
5 Picture Books for Grandparents Day + Free Printable
1.The Hello, Goodbye Window (Norton Juster, Chris Raschka)
This Caldecott Award winning picture book by Norton Juster, the celebrated author of The Phantom Tollbooth, shows the playful relationship between doting grandparents and a little grandchild. It also pays a tribute to the power of imagination – and the ordinary window can become almost anything!
2.My Grandfather Aajoba (Taruja Parande)
In this scrapbook-like picture book, the author brings together her precious memories of her grandfather in pictorial form. Nostalgic.
Check out the similar Days With Thathu by Geeta Dharmarajan.
3.Thunder Cake (Patricia Polacco)
Loud claps of thunder frighten the granddaughter. Grandmother tells her to come with her, because it is time to ‘make the thunder cake’! The ingredients have to be gathered from all over the farm, and they have to hurry, because the cake needs to get into the oven to bake before the storm arrives.
A beautiful book about grandma and granddaughter turning a frightening situation into an adventure.
Other books about grandparents, also by Patricia Polacco: The Bee Tree, Babushka Baba Yaga, Babushka’s Mother Goose, and The Keeping Quilt.
4.Now One Foot, Now The Other (Tomie dePaola)
Five year old Bobby remembers his grandfather, Bob, teaching him to walk, talk, and eat, very, very patiently. Now Bob has had a stroke, and is bedridden. He doesn’t seem the same person. His father says Bob can no longer recognize him. But doesn’t he? Booby is not so sure. So he decides to return the favour, and begins to help Bob get back on his feet, now one foot, now the other.
Check out Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs, a book about a grandmother and a great-grandmother, also by Tomie dePaola.
5.Oma’s Quilt (Paulette Bourgeois)
Emily’s grandmother Oma is very, very old, and cannot live by herself. So she has to leave her home and go live in a Senior Citizens’ Home. Oma is very sad to leave all that is familiar behind. So Emily has a brilliant idea. She decides to make a quilt for Oma from many things that are familiar to her, the curtains, blankets, clothes, ribbons, and lace, that hold her memories.
Some fun activities perfect for Grandparents
- Make a Tabletop Photo Album that Grandparents will love!
- Want to learn more about your grandparents? Say, about their childhood, or about what they like? Print out these worksheets and have fun filling them up. You can also colour them while you’re at it.
- Remember Sirius Black’s family tree on a wall at 12, Grimmauld Place? With your grandparents’ help, put together your own family tree.
- Download our Free Printable ” I love my Grandpa” & “I love my Grandma” Letters.
[ 4MB PDF – Click image to start download ]
- Remember grandmother’s thunder cake in a book above? Get your hands in that flour, and bake together with your grandparent.
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Happy Grandparents’ Day!
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