This is a sponsored post
Throughout lockdown
And the last few months and weeks
We have found ourselves reading lots of books
About grandparents
And intergenerational friendships
Covid has caused a lot of anxiety and stress for many of us
Especially those of us with older relatives
We have had enforced times apart
And we have missed the kisses and cuddles
Missed the closeness extended families ordinarily enjoy
Many of the books we have been reading
Celebrate the kindness, generosity and wisdom of grandparents
They tell of the beautiful bonds built between grandparents and children
These are books that tug at your heartstrings
That make you want to tell your family immediately
Just how much you love them and miss them every day
Here are some of our favourite reads
Featuring grandparents galore!
The Keeper of Wild Words
Bloom
Tiny Perfect Things
When Grandma Gives You A Lemon Tree
When Grandpa Gives You A Toolbox
A companion book to Grandma and the Lemon Tree. This one follows the same structure as the first and celebrates hard work, sharing, kindness and community.
The little boy in the story was hoping for a house for his dolls but instead is given a toolbox. His Grandpa helps him to see the potential in the gift and learn the skilsl he needs to make things for himself and for others. Such a lovely book that would make a wonderful gift for the special Grandpa in your life.
My Grandma and Me
This is a book bursting with love. This story shares the adoration a little girl has for her Grandma.
Mina’s Grandmother lives with her in Iran. They do everything together. They have a strong bond which is fun and playful, filled with love and kindness. The story celebrates their relationship and shows some of the Muslim traditions that they share. My children learning a little about Ramadan. The illustrations in this book are beautiful, filled with colours and pretty patterns. This is a love story. Granddaughter and Grandmother. Mina wants nothing more than to be just like her Grandma, kind, generous and full of love. I remember adoring my own Nan in just the same way.
If All The World Were
This book caught me out in the library as I read it out loud to the children. It is so beautiful but it is so so sad. This is a poetic picture book about the love between a little girl and her grandad, and how through memories, love can live on. This book is an emotional read but it is also uplifting and hopeful and would be a wonderful support to any child who has lost a grandparent. The book is beautifully written and the illustrations burst with life and colour even at the saddest of times. This is brilliant book for starting a conversation about illness and loss and about learning to live without someone that you miss very very much.
Grandpa’s Garden
I have so many wonderful memories of my Grandad’s garden as a child. It was always Nanny’s house and Grandad’s garden. He grew all sorts of wonderful things in his greenhouse and veg patch. I used to love his runner beans and digging for the treasure he used to hide for us. This is a book that celebrates the bond between Grandad and Grandson as the elder hands down gardening skills and wisdom to the younger. A wonderful book about grandads and gardening.
Joy
Birdsong
This beautiful book follows a young girl as she moves to her new home far away from the sea. The little girl feels lonely and out of place. She makes friends with an elderly neighbour, Agnes, and through a shared love of nature and art a wonderful, intergenerational friendship is formed. This is a wonderful tale of friendship and how nature and art can bring people together. We travel through the seasons as the relationship grows between the young girl and the elderly lady. The elderly Agnes grows frail through the winter and the young girl brings her joy before saying goodbye. A very emotional read with stunning illustrations for all ages.
There’s A Tiger In The Garden
My Grandma is 100
This is a wonderful story about a Grandma celebrating her 100th birthday. The granddaughter is not sure what to buy for someone who is turning 100. What do 100 year old Grandma’s eat at parties? How can you fit 100 candles on a cake? What present should you buy for someone turning 100? Grandma Edna lives in a special home with lots of other people. She has her own room but no playroom so her present cannot be too big! The Granddaughter chooses the perfect gift and the 100th birthday celebrations are a great success! This is a joyous book. It is fun to read out loud and enjoy together as a family. It can lead to discussions about how we all get old, how the older generation have different tastes and needs, how some people may need extra care as they get older and may need to live in a special home or have a live in carer in their home. This is a book with lots of different levels but it is fun and filled with empathy, love and kindness. It definitely made us smile.
We have loved reading all these grandparent stories
Grandparents are treasures
I know that our children adore theirs
As I adored mine when they were here
I would have loved to have celebrated 100 with my Nan and Grandad
But it was not to be
I am glad that these books exist
Stories that celebrate the joy grandparents bring
The bonds they have
The hugely important roles they play in families of different shapes and sizes
Here are books that can be used for celebration
Also to help with understanding loss and grief
To remind us to care for our older relatives
To do what we can to support them and be with them
To celebrate them
Grandparents Galore!
Pingback: Poppy Goes Wild Blog Tour: Our Review and Q&A With Illustrator Becca Hall | Edspire