Although National Grandparents Day was earlier this fall, I think we should celebrate lively and fun grandparents every day. Don’t you agree?
I Love My GlamMa
Author: Samantha Berger
Illustrator: Sujean Rim
Publisher/Date: Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic/2019
Ages: 4-8
Themes: grandmothers, fashion, family, young at heart
Short Synopsis (from Goodreads):
A celebration of EVERY grandma’s glamorous ways — and the special love that glam-mas share with everything they do!
“Glam-mas don’t just come over… they make a grand entrance!
Glam-mas don’t just celebrate holidays… they celebrate everything!
Glam-mas don’t just carry a purse… they carry a treasure chest!”
A joyful celebration of grandmothers who are young at heart, adventurous, and find a bit of glamour in everything they do. Whether these glam-mas are building sandcastles, riding with dolphins, or turning blankets into reading forts and super capes, they live each day with a playful spirit — just like their grandchildren.
From the writer of Crankenstein and the illustrator of Birdie’s Big-Girl Shoes comes a playful and heartwarming ode to grandmas and grandchildren everywhere… because there’s nothing more glamorous than being a grandma.
Read a review at Grand: Living the Ageless Life.
The Truth About Grandparents
Author & Illustrator: Elina Ellis
Publisher/Date: Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group/2019
Ages: 4-8
Themes: grandparents, family, stereotypes
Short Synopsis (from Goodreads):
In this perfect gift for grandparents and grandchildren alike, a loving child reveals the truth behind assumptions that old people just aren’t any fun.
Grandparents are slow. Grandparents are scared of new things. And grandparents definitely don’t dance — right? A simple, playful storyline that children will love anticipating makes this a perfect read-aloud for modern families to share together. With sly humor and breezy, dynamic artwork in the tradition of Quentin Blake, this book is a fresh celebration of the special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.
Read a review at Kirkus Reviews.
I paired these books because both shatter misperceptions that grandparents are decrepit, boring, old-fashioned, and resist new ideas. These are fun, quick reads that grandparents will enjoy sharing with their grandchildren, either when they visit in person, or perhaps via Skype or Facetime.
For more books about age-defying seniors and positive images of aging in children’s literature, see A is for Aging, B is for Books.
Wander, Ponder, Write 