Early each September, there’s a Sunday for honoring grandparents. Traditionally many picture books have shown children interacting with each other and with their parents. Grandparents have been stepping into the pictures and stories in recent years, adding both dynamic interactions and authenticity that kids—and their grandfolks—recognize and can enjoy together. This Grandparents Day, share these picture books with your own grandparent or a borrowed one!
From Cuento de Luz SUPERGRANNIES by José Carlos Román, illustrated by Mónica Carretero, translated to English by Jon Brokenbrow, and also available in the original Spanish SUPERABUELAS, brings a robust cast of grannies in every shape, size, color, and…superpowers! Their expressions are both sly and engaging, their superpowers familiar to kids everywhere as they include such capacities as telling great stories, as prosaic as sending balls of yarn flying, as delicious as producing cookies for visiting children. This may be a near relative of Gecko Press’ ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GRANNIES, written and illustrated by Éric Veillé and translated by Daniel Hahn. However, each title has so much to offer that is fresh and new that they are complementary rather than being duplicative. The ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GRANNIES is arranged by personal feature and activity, with each large page offering a platter of contrasting styles and energy levels, as shown in the spread at the top of this post.
While the first two picture books above each present a host of alternative characters, MY GRANDMA THE CHAMELEON, written and illustrated by Maria Löfgren, translated by Polly Lawson, and published by Floris Books, introduces a single grandparent who appears in a plethora of places, styles, and possessing interesting artifacts. Like her pet chamelon, she is masterful at blending into whatever surroundings present themselves, much to the delight and curiosity of her grandchild.
ABUELO’S FLOWER SHOP, written by Jackie Morera, illustrated by Deise Lino, and published by Beaming Books, delivers a story of about a little girl’s relationship with her grandfather as she helps out in his shop. When she wonders why so many of the shop’s visitors seem to be sad, he explains that their visit is typically the last stop made as they prepare to visit the neighboring cemetery. However, grieving is a part of life and love, he explains. Together they share with readers the importance of missing someone beloved and showing that love and that bereavement with such a gift as flowers.
This Grandparents Day, whether you have a silly grandparent, a mysterious grandparent, or a wise grandparent–or maybe all of these and more–take the time to spend time with them in person or in your memory. A good picture book can help prompt a rich discussion of what we share with them.