When Grandma comes to visit do you enjoy a special tradition? Does she bring you a treat or a present? Maybe you have a favorite card game or recipe you prepare together. Often, the relationship between a grandparent and grandchild is a special bond, filled with quality time and activties. Grandmas seem to have that little bit of extra time and life experience to share that a busy parent might not.
Grandmas everywhere are special and all over the world we use different names for grandma. What do you call your grandma?
Nana, Bubbe (Yiddish), Meemaw, Gammy, GiGi, Oma (German), Grandmere -less formal Mamie (French), Mimi, Granny, Meme, Abuela (Spanish), NaiNai (Chinese), Gram or Grandma.
Here are some of my favorite books about grandmas. Make sure to check the catalog for even more great books about grandmas.
Susanna Leonard Hill- author. John Joseph- illustrator.
There's no one else quite like grandma. And now, every child can express their love and celebrate their special bond with Dear Grandma, an enchanting picture book perfect for all ages! Filled with heartfelt text, adorable illustrations, and space to write or draw a special message to grandma, this book makes the perfect read-aloud experience and will be a wonderful keepsake for years to come! -Goodreads-2021.
Michelle Sterling- author. Aaron Asis- illustrator.
For one young girl, summer is the season of no school, of days spent at the pool, and of picking golden limes off the trees. But summer doesn't start until her Lola- her grandmother from the Phillipines comes for her annual visit. When Lola visits, the whole family gathers to cook, eat, and share in their happiness of another season spent together.
Lola fills the house with the aroma of mango jam, funny stories of baking mishaps, and her quiet, sweet singing in Tagalog. And in turn, her granddaughter brings Lola to the beach, to view fireworks at the park, and catch fish at their lake. Goodreads-2021.
Sheri Mabry- author. Wazza Pink- illustrator.
When a girl walks through the woods with her grandma, she's so excited about reaching their destination that she misses out on what's around her. But with Grandma's help, she learns how to breathe, be peaceful, and notice the little surprises along the way. Find mindfulness in nature through this gentle story. Goodreads-2020.
Supriya Kelkar- author. Parvati Pillai- illustrator.
This charming picture book is about a little girl who loves her bindis(and the many creative shapes they come in)! The bindis are also a connection to her Nani who lives in India. When Nani comes to visit Bindu and brings bindis to her, it is just in time to wear something new to the school talent show. Bindu and Nani work together to shine their brightnest and embrace their sparkle, even when they stand out from the crowd.-Goodreads-2021.
Ten Beautiful Things 
Molly Beth Griffin- author. Maribel Lechuga- illustrator.
Moving in with Gram is a big change for Lily. She's not happy about living in the middle of nowhere in empty old Iowa. But when Gram suggests they look for ten beautiful things during their road trip to Lily's new home, Lily finds more and more to appreciate along the way.
Ten Beautiful Things leaves the exact cause of Lily's move ambiguous, making it perfect for anyone helping a child navigate change, whether it be the loss of a parent, entering or leaving a foster home, or moving. Goodreads-2020.
Vanessa Brantley-Newton- author & illustrator.
When Grandma Mimi comes to visit, she always brings warm hugs, sweet treats...and her purse. You never know what she'll have in there--fancy jewelry, tokens from around the world, or something special just for her granddaughter. It might look like a normal bag from the outside, but Mimi and her granddaughter know that it's pure magic!
In this adorable, ode to visits from grandma, Newton shows how an ordinary day can become extraordinary. Goodreads-2018.
Dave Eggers- author. Woodrow White- illustrator.
What do you do when your grandma wants to become a jaguar? You become a jaguar, too. When she runs through the jungle and over mountains, you should too. When she drinks from moonlit lakes, you should, too. And when it's time to return home and school... Well your grandmother will explain everything.
A vivid celebration of imagination and adventure and mysteries our elders embody. Publisher-2021.
Lee Merrill Byrd- author. Francisco Delgado- illustrator.
If your grandmother looks tired, it's time for a do-over! The old gal will need to be lying down because it has a lot of moving parts- chinney-chin-chin hair removal, face powder dumps, long stretches of blush, slashes of lipstick and eye shadow. Earings, scarves, the works! birdie knows best: she owns that beauty parlor! Goodreads-2018.
Tricia Elam Walker- author. April Harrison- illustrator.
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. 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 traibal markings on her face.
This book is a reminder that what makes us different is also what makes us special. Goodreads-2020.
Carole Lexa Schaefer-author. Pierr Morgan- illustrator.
Explore world languages and different cultures as we see--and hear-grandmothers' chickens in the United States, Mexico, Kenya, Japan, India and France, in this delightful book that introduces children to cultural diversity.
A great read aloud full of onomatopoeia and simple international vocabulary. Bright, charming illustrations show multigenerational families and chickens in different enviroments. Universal is the special relationships grandmothers have with grandchildren all over the world. Publisher-2021.
Alyssa Stin Capucilli- author. Rotem Teplow- illustrator.
Bubbe goes to the outdoor Carmel Market in Tel-Aviv to shop for Shabbat, but in addition to buying the challah, candles, chicken, tablecloth, flowers, and other necessities, she also finds herself coming home with lots of stray cats. The cats' howling begins to disrupt the lovely Shabbat dinner she has planned, but they all calm down once Bubbe lights the Shabbat candles. Goodreads-2021.
A. J. Leaf- author. Claudia Navarro- illustrator.
As her grandmother's health declines, a young girl begins to lovingly take the lead in their cozy shared autumn traditions. Poetic prose paired with evocative illustrations make for a beautiful celebration of life and introduction to the death of a loved one. Goodreads-2020.
Enjoy your Grandma!
Bonnie Sherr Klein- author. Elisabeth Eudes-Pascal- illustrator.
Kate is upset when grandma (Bubbie) gets a motorized scooter, will Bubbie still be Bubbie in that scooter? Kate slowly warms to the scooter after she sees what a good friend it is to Bubbie. And shopping at Granville Island turns our to be so much fun! Her little brother Nate loves the scooter's bell and whistles, and Kate makes new friends on their joyous outing. Goodreads-2021.
Blanca Gomes- author & illustrator.
On a snowy day, a grandmother and grandchild find an injured bird. They take it home and care for it until it can fly around the living room. It is fantastic-just like everything at Abuela's house! But a fantastic moment is also bittersweet, for the little bird's recovery means that it's time to let it fly free. Drawing inspiration from a formative childhood experince, Gomes crafts a deceptivley simple story that is morally and emotionally resonant and is brimming with love, wonder, and a deep respect for the natural world. Goodreads-2021.
Taro Gomi- author & illustrator.
Yumi and her grandmother have the same great idea: they want to see each other. So they each head out to do just that, only to completely miss each other along the way! No problem-they'll just head back home and wait for the other to return. The trouble is that they have the same great idea-again-resulting in the ultimate missed connection! Will this duo ever find each other? Goodreads-2018.
Vera Brosgol- author.
Freda is devasted when she can't eat all the delicious blueberries she's picked. She has to wait a whole year before they're back, and she doesn't want to lose them! Then Gran reminds her that they can save blueberries in a jar, as jam. So Freda begins to save all her favorite things. But it turns out that saving everything also means she can't enjoy anything, and Freda realizes that some things are best saved as memories. Goodreads-2021.