Our Montessori Bookshelf: “Grandfriends,” Special People in Your Child’s Life
Grandparents (and “grandfriends”) are such valuable parts of our children’s lives. To honor these special folks, we are sharing our favorite picture books that highlight the value of connection between grandparents and their grandchildren.
We hope your children and their grandparents can perhaps share some time together, or at the very least that your children can read these books with you and reflect upon what they value about their grandparents. Maybe after reading these stories, grandparents and grandchildren can share and create their own stories together!
Berry Song
by Michaela Goade
With mystical illustrations grounded in botanical bounty, this book shares the joy of a child’s connection with her grandmother and weaves it with the power of sharing traditional ways of honoring the land and its gifts. After responsibly harvesting food together, the child and her grandmother cook, feast, and share. The seasons change, and the story continues as the girl takes her little sister’s hand to begin the process again. The extensive author’s notes are also compelling and worth savoring.
Drawn Together
by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat
“Sometimes you don’t need words to find common ground.” This book perfectly illustrates this tagline. The story even starts without words, just images in the comic or graphic novel style of getting dropped off at his grandfather’s house. We see all the ways they don’t connect, yet when the boy pulls out some paper and draws, the grandfather gets his sketchbook. A whole new world opens up between them, and the narrator begins to use words to share the experiences of grandfather and grandson. The illustrations show contrasting generational and cultural experiences and how a shared love for drawing can bridge a divide.
I Love Saturdays y Domingos
by Alma Flor Ada, illustrated by Elivia Savadier
Two sets of grandparents offer two quite different cultural experiences, which are lovingly depicted in this story of how a young girl appreciates her Saturdays and Sundays. With Spanish carefully woven throughout the storyline, especially to show the contrast between Saturdays y Domingos (and Sundays), we encounter the joy and delight of different traditions and daily routines. By the end of the book, the two sides of the family come together for the girls’ birthday and demonstrate the significance of togetherness.
Kiyoshi's Walk
by Mark Karlins, illustrated by Nicole Wong
In addition to being a lovely portrayal of how a wise, quiet grandfather helps his grandson discover his own answers to his questions, this book is an excellent introduction to haiku. The story begins with Kiyoshi watching his poet grandfather compose a haiku and wondering aloud where poems come from. His question leads grandfather and grandson to a neighborhood exploration full of wonder, connection, new poems, new questions, and ultimately profound insights.
Nana in the City
by Lauren Castillo
A Caldecott Honor book, the story begins with a young boy coming to visit his Nana in the city. He finds the place too loud, busy, and scary, so his Nana promises to show him how wonderful the city can be. While he sleeps, she knits him a red cape, which makes him feel brave during their excursion throughout the city. With a newfound perspective, he can see the extraordinary and why his Nana wants to be there (and how he can look forward to visiting again!).
The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story
by Tina M. Cho, illustrated by Jess X. Snow
With a stunning use of color, The Ocean Calls reminds us of the power of patience and how traditions are passed from generation to generation. Dayeon longs to be a treasure-hunting mermaid like her grandma yet also holds deep fear from a previous experience in the ocean. Her “what if” questions are calmed by her grandmother’s calm presence and reminder about haenyeo tradition. Although subtle, the book also visually shares the power of a community of women serving as support.
Time for Bed, Old House
by Janet Costa Bates, illustrated by AG Ford
Sleeping over at a grandparent’s house can be a treat, but it can also be scary. So, Isaac’s grandfather takes a different approach, leading Isaac on a tour through the house to “put it to bed.” They move slowly and quietly. They dim the lights. They draw the blinds. And they check on what all the sounds are. The cozy illustrations make you feel right at home, and some include a perspective that makes it feel like you are in the room, too. The best part is how the story shows the arc of how Isaac takes ownership of the process and, as a result, feels safe and secure.
The Truth About Grandparents
by Elina Ellis
If you and your children are in the mood for some fun-loving frolic, this book is just what you need! The child narrator introduces their “really old” grandparents (plus their “wrinkly faces” and “funny teeth”). While the words on the page state one thing, the narrator has heard about old people, the illustrations show the child’s experience sharing adventures and fun with their grandparents. Full of zest and joy, this book can’t help but bring out some smiles (and maybe even some ideas of fun things to do together!).
When Lola Visits
by Michelle Sterling, illustrated by Aaron Asis
With simple illustrations, the story focuses on the scents of summer, including all the smells and experiences that are part of a grandmother’s summer stay. The repeating refrain of “summer smells like” weaves together a whimsical, wispy nostalgia, while also showing how different traditions, “like kalamansi pie and fireworks on the Fourth of July,” can come together in powerful ways for young children. The book also brings together the contrasting feelings that can arise when the beauty of summer ends and the promise of a new school year begins.
Where Are You From?
by Yamile Saied Méndez, illustrated by Jamie Kim
This is a perfect book for when children feel stumped by the question, “Where are you from?” The main character asks her Abuelo. What he shares is beautiful and inspiring, reminding his granddaughter, and perhaps all of us, of the places and ancestors who are so much a part of who we are. But this expansive answer doesn’t satisfy his granddaughter, who wants to know where she is really from. His answer captures the essence of her identity and where she is from and establishes the power of personal love and ancestral connection.