Storybooks to Share with
Children About Grandparents,
Intergenerational Relationships,
and Legacies

Ackerman, Karen and Stephen Gammell illus. Song and Dance Man. Knopf, 1992. In this Caldecott Medal book, Grandpa, who was once in vaudeville, revisits his youth and his profession as he entertains his three grandchildren one afternoon.

Adoff, Arnold and Emily Arnold McCully illus. Black Is Brown Is Tan. Harpercollins, 1992. Two children with a "chocolate momma," a "white" daddy, and "granny white and grandma black" share the joys of being a family.

Aliki. The Two of Them. Greenwillow Books, 1979. The story of a grandfather's relationship with his granddaughter, from her birth to his death.

Anholt, Laurence. Leonardo and the Flying Boy. Barron's, 2000. A wonderful book about the mentor relationship between Leonardo da Vinci and one of his real-life apprentices Zoro.

Anholt, Laurence and Dan Williams illus. The Magpie Song. Houghton Mifflin, 1996. Carla, who lives with her family in the city, shares a close relationship -- and a secret -- with her grandad in the country through the letters they write each other.

Antle, Nancy and E.B. Lewis illus. Staying Cool. Dial, 1997. Curtis, an African-American boy, struggles to be the best boxer he can be, while trying to make his grandfather proud by showing he can keep his cool.

Arnold, Marsha Diane and Julie Downing illus. The Chicken Salad Club. Dial, 1998. Nathaniel looks forward to sharing chicken salad sandwiches with his 100-year-old "Greatpaw" and listening to his stories.

Bahr, Mary and David Cunningham illus. The Memory Box. Albert Whitman, 1992. When Gramps realizes he has Alzheimer's, he starts a memory box with Zach to hold onto all the memories of the special times.

Bauer, Marion Dane and Allen Garns illus. When I Go Camping with Grandma. Bridgewater, 1995. A young girl goes camping with her grandma and, whether paddling a kayak or setting up camp, it's a celebration of nature and love.

Bercaw, Edna Coe and Robert Hunt illus. Halmoni's Day. Dial, 2000. Jennifer's grandmother, Halmoni, is coming from Korea to visit just in time for the school Grandparents Day. Despite Jennifer's worries that her grandmother will embarrass her, the day works out just perfectly.

Berenstain, Stan and Jan. The Berenstain Bears and the Week at Grandma's. Random House, 1986. Brother and Sister worry about spending a week at Gran and Gramp's house, but by the end of the visit they've learned a lot from their lively grandparents -- and the older bears have discovered how wonderful it is to be grandparents.

Best, Cari and Giselle Potter illus. Three Cheers for Catherine the Great! DK Publishing, 1999. Sara's Russian grandmother has requested that there be no presents at her birthday party, so Sara must think of a gift from her heart.

Bierman, Carol and Laurie McGaw illus. Journey to Ellis Island. Hyperion, 1998. Illustrated with evocative paintings and family photos, this is a true story about a Russian Jewish family's immigration to America.

Blos, Joan and Emily Arnold McCully illus. The Grandpa Days. Simon & Schuster, 1994. A patient and loving grandfather redirects his grandson's plans for building a spaceship to the more practical project of a sled, and teaches him about woodworking along the way.

Bogart, Jo Ellen and Barbara Reid illus. Gifts. North Winds Press, 1994. With delightful verse, a grandma brings her granddaughter souvenirs from her travels throughout the world.

Bond, Ruskin and Allan Eitzen illus. Cherry Tree. Boyds Mills Press, 1996. Rakhi lives in the Himalayan foothills of India. Her grandfather suggests that she plant a cherry tree and, as she tends it, it grows into a lovely tree just as she grows into a lovely young woman.

Booth, Barbara and Jim LaMarche illus. Mandy. Lothrop Lee & Shepard, 1991. A realistic story about a deaf girl, Mandy, and her visit with her widowed grandmother. When Grandma loses her treasured 25th-anniversary pin, Mandy overcomes her fear to find it in the dark woods.

Bosak, Susan V. and Laurie McGaw illus. Something to Remember Me By: An Illustrated Story for Young and Old. The Communication Project, 1997. In this moving story, a grandmother gives her young granddaughter special keepsakes; as the years pass and both grow older, it becomes clear that one gift -- the legacy of love -- is the most precious gift of all. This book inspired the national Legacy Project at www.somethingtoremembermeby.org.

Bowen, Anne and Greg Shed illus. I Loved You Before You Were Born. Harpercollins, 2001. A sweet story about a grandmother eagerly awaiting the arrival of her grandchild; when the baby finally arrives, Grandma is ready with a special message.

Buckley, Helen E. and Jan Ormerod illus. Grandfather and I and Grandmother and I. Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard, 1994. Two warm, reassuring companion books, told from the perspective of a child.

Bunting, Eve and Karen Barbour illus. I Have an Olive Tree. HarperCollins, 1999. Sophia comes to understand the significance of the olive tree in Greek culture after her grandpa gives her one for her seventh birthday.

Bunting, Eve and Greg Shed illus. The Butterfly House. Scholastic, 1999. With the help of her grandfather, a little girl makes a house to care for a caterpillar until it becomes a beautiful butterfly; includes detailed instructions for making a butterfly house.

Bunting, Eve and Donald Carrick illus. The Wednesday Surprise. Houghton Mifflin, 1990. A loving story about a granddaughter's successful efforts to teach her grandmother to read.

Buscaglia, Leo. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1982. A gentle, comforting story about the cycle of life through the eyes of a leaf.

Butterworth, Nick. My Grandma is Wonderful and My Grandpa is Amazing. Candlewick, 1992. A pair of books that celebrate how lively, interesting, and simply great grandparents can be.

Carlson, Nancy L. Hooray for Grandparents' Day! Penguin Putnam, 2000. Arnie doesn't have grandparents to come to school on Grandparents' Day, but it turns out he has a lot of other special older people in his life who can substitute.

Carney, Margaret and Janet Wilson illus. At Grandpa's Sugar Bush. Kids Can, 1998. A young boy on his spring vacation travels to his grandparents' farm to help collect and make maple syrup.

Caseley, Judith. Dear Annie. Mulberry, 1994. Grandpa has been Annie's pen pal since the day she was born, and the written word has helped forge a special relationship between them.

Castle, Caroline. For Every Child. Penguin Putnam/Phyllis Fogelman Books, 2001. Based on the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, an evocative text about the rights children throughout the world should have.

Cech, John and Sharon McGinley-Nally illus. My Grandmother's Journey. Aladdin, 1998. A grandmother recounts, as a bedtime tale of courage and hope to her granddaughter, her migration from Russia to America.

Chocolate, Debbi and Eric Velasquez illus. The Piano Man. Walker, 1998. An African-American girl tells the story of her grandfather, who played piano in a silent movie theater, a Broadway theater, and vaudeville.

Christian, Frank P., Wendy Gelsanliter and Marjorie Priceman illus. Dancin' in the Kitchen. Putnam, 1998. While making dinner at Grandma's, all three generations of a family share dancing and fun.

Clifton, Lucille and Dale Payson illus. The Lucky Stone. Yearling, 1986. Tee's great-grandmother tells the little girl "good luck" stories of three generations in an African-American family, from slavery to freedom.

Combs, Ann. How Old is Old? Price Stern Sloan, 1988. Alistair isn't sure how old "old" really is until his grandfather shows him, in charming rhyme, that everything is relative.

Cooney, Barbara. Miss Rumphius. Viking, 1985. A beautiful, inspiring book about an older woman who, as a young girl, vows to see faraway places, live beside the sea, and do something to make the world more beautiful. She does all of these things, with the last one being most important of all.

Crews, Donald. Bigmama's. Mulberry, 1998. An African-American family takes the train in the summer to visit their grandmother, Bigmama, in the country.

Degross, Monalisa and Floyd Cooper illus. Granddaddy's Street Songs. Hyperion, 1999. Roddy loves to bring out the old family photo album and listen to his African-American grandfather tell stories about his long-ago days as an "arabber," a fruit and vegetable vendor.

Demas, Corinne and Ted Lewin illus. The Disappearing Island. Simon & Schuster, 2000. Carrie wonders about the mysterious island that her grandmother plans to take her to on her ninth birthday, a place that's only visible at low tide and the rest of the time remains a secret beneath the waves.

dePaola, Tomie. Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs. Puffin, 2000. A classic tale of a boy's love of and then loss of his great-grandmother and grandmother.

dePaola, Tomie. Now One Foot, Now the Other. Putnam, 1988. When his grandfather has a stroke, Bobby helps him relearn many of the things that he taught Bobby as a toddler.

dePaola, Tomie. Pancakes for Breakfast. Harvest, 1990. In this wordless book, a resourceful older woman is determined to have pancakes for breakfast even though she's challenged by both the lack of ingredients and her mischievous pets.

dePaola, Tomie. Watch Out for the Chicken Feet in Your Soup. Prentice Hall, 1985. Joey is embarrassed by his Italian grandmother until his friend Eugene helps him see her with new eyes. Includes a recipe for bread.

Dorros, Arthur and Elisa Kleven illus. Abuela. Puffin, 1997. Rosalba and her grandmother, her abuela, take a magical journey as they fly over the streets of Manhattan. The story is narrated in English sprinkled with Spanish phrases.

Dorros, Arthur and Elisa Kleven illus. Isla. Puffin, 1999. In this second book, Rosalba and her abuela go on an imaginary journey to the Carribbean island where her grandmother grew up. Includes a glossary and pronunciation guide for the Spanish words sprinkled throughout the text.

Douglass, Barbara. Good As New. Econo-Clad, 1999. Grady's Grandpa can fix almost anything -- but can he really fix Grady's beloved stuffed bear which has been smeared with peanut butter, dragged through the dirt, and even fed to the dog?

Dunbar, James and Martin Remphry illus. When I Was Young. Carolrhoda, 1999. A clever story that follows Josh's family back through the generations and 300 years.

English, Karen and Cedric Lucas illus. Big Wind Coming! Albert Whitman, 1996. An African-American family gets through a hurricane on their farm with the help of their grandparents' quiet wisdom.

English, Karen and Anna Rich illus. Just Right Stew. Boyds Mills Press, 1998. For her birthday, Big Mama's daughters want to surprise her by making her favorite dish -- oxtail stew. But they can't get the stew to taste right -- until Big Mama and her granddaughter Victoria add the secret ingredient.

Flournoy, Valerie and Jerry Pinkney illus. The Patchwork Quilt. Dial, 1985. Using scraps cut from the family's old clothing, Tanya helps her grandmother make a beautiful quilt that tells the story of her family's life.

Flournoy, Valerie and Jerry Pinkney illus. Tanya's Reunion. Dial, 1995. In this sequel, Tanya visits the farm where her grandmother grew up to help prepare for a family reunion. Nothing lives up to her expectations, until she comes to see the place through her Grandma's eyes.

Fox, Mem and Patricia Mullins illus. Shoes from Grandpa. Orchard Books, 1992. In a cumulative rhyme, family members describe the clothes they intend to give Jessie to go with her shoes from Grandpa.

Fox, Mem and Julie Vivas illus. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. Viking Kestrel, 1984. A young boy learns what memory is and helps an old woman remember times from her life.

Franklin, Kristine L. and Terea Shaffer illus. The Old, Old Man and the Very Little Boy. Atheneum, 1992. In an African village, an ancient storyteller passes on wonderful tales to a little boy who, one day, will carry on the storytelling tradition.

George, Jean Craighead and Daniel Powers illus. Dear Katie, The Volcano Is a Girl. Hyperion, 1998. Katie and her grandmother are off to Hawaii to learn the facts and myths about volcanos.

Gilman, Phoebe. Something from Nothing. Scholastic, 1992. Adapted from a Jewish folktale, this charming story begins as Joseph's mother wants to throw away his tattered, beloved blanket. But Grandpa will fix it!

Glaser, Linda and Nancy Cote illus. The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes. Albert Whitman, 1997. Rachel goes to her elderly neighbor Mrs. Greenberg to borrow potatoes to make Hanukkah latkes -- and cleverly convinces the "stubborn-as-an-ox" woman to join in the holiday celebration.

Gray, Libba Moore and Jada Rowland illus. Miss Tizzy. Aladdin, 1998. All the neighborhood children love energetic, African-American Miss Tizzy and know just how to return her kindness when she becomes ill.

Greenfield, Eloise and Floyd Cooper illus. Grandpa's Face. Paper Star, 1996. When African-American Tamika sees her beloved Grandpa practicing a mean face for a play, she learns that although his face may change, his love for her never will.

Griffith, Helen V. and James Stevenson illus. Grandaddy and Janetta Together: The Three Stories in One Book. Greenwillow, 2001. Three great picture books about a strong and loving connection between a "country" grandfather and his "city" granddaughter -- Grandaddy's Place (1987), Grandaddy and Janetta (1993) and Grandaddy's Stars (1995) -- are collected into one chapter book with the illustrations converted to black and white.

Guback, Georgia. Luka's Quilt. Greenwillow, 1994. Luka is disappointed when, instead of the multicolor quilt she expects, her grandmother "Tutu" makes her a traditional two-color Hawaiian quilt. The conflict is cleverly resolved as each generation comes to better appreciate the other.

Hawxhurst, Joan C. and Jane K. Bynum illus. Bubbe & Gram. Dovetail Publishing, 1996. A child learns about Christianity and Judaism from her two very different grandmothers.

Heal, Gillian. Grandpa Bear's Fantastic Scarf. Beyond Words Publishing, 1997. Each day, Grandpa Bear's weaving grows longer and more colorful, reflecting pieces of his life.

Henkes, Kevin and Marisabina Russo illus. Good-bye, Curtis. Greenwillow, 1995. Curtis is retiring from 42 years of delivering mail; on his last day we see the changes he's witnessed and the contributions he's made to the community.

Hest, Amy and Amy Schwartz illus. Nana's Birthday Party. William Morrow, 1993. Every year Nana throws herself a birthday party with very specific rules: "No jeans. No gum... No fighting and no whining... No presents, except the kind you make yourself." Maggie and her cousin Brette sleep over at their grandmother's and, while sharing some vivid birthday traditions, get a little competitive about making their gift.

Hest, Amy and Amy Schwartz illus. The Purple Coat. Four Winds Press, 1986. Mama wants her to get a practical navy blue coat, but Gabby's Grandpa understands why Gabby wants a purple coat.

Hest, Amy and Amy Schwartz illus. Gabby Growing Up. Simon & Schuster, 1998. A sequel to The Purple Coat, Gabby and her Grandpa plan to celebrate his birthday by going ice-skating, but Gabby is worried about whether he'll like her homemade gift and her new, "grown-up" haircut.

Hickcox, Ruth and David Soman illus. Great-Grandmother's Treasure. Dial, 1998. Great-Grandmother puts all her treasured life experiences into her apron and carries them with her.

High, Linda Oatman and Doug Chayka illus. Beekeepers. Boyds Mills Press, 1998. A loving story about a young girl who helps her grandfather tend his bees.

Hines, Anna Grossnickle. Grandma Gets Grumpy. Clarion, 1988. A realistic story about the special -- but not perfect! -- relationship between a grandmother and her five grandchildren.

Hoffman, Mary and Caroline Binch illus. Amazing Grace. Dial, 1991. Nana helps her African-American granddaughter Grace understand that she can be anything, "if you put your mind to it."

Hurwitz, Hilda Abramson, Hope Wasburn and Mara H. Wasburn (ed). Dear Hope... Love Grandma. Alef, 1995. In this collection of authentic letters, Hope's grandmother reveals the richness of her life in the early 1900s, her participation in the Jewish community, and her life wisdom.

Igus, Toyomi and Daryl Wells illus. Two Mrs. Gibsons. Childrens Book Press, 2001. A young girl pays tribute to the two most important women in her life -- her Japanese mother and her African-American grandmother.

Johnson, Angela and Shane Evans illus. Down the Winding Road. Dorling Kindersley, 2000. An African-American family makes their annual summer visit, filled with joy and good times, to the Old Ones.

Johnson, Angela and David Soman illus. When I Am Old With You. Orchard, 1993. An affectionate tale of an African-American child who looks forward to getting old and doing the same things with his grandfather that he does now.

Johnston, Tony and Barry Root illus. Fishing Sunday. William Morrow, 1996. A young Japanese-American boy, originally embarrassed by the traditions of his Japanese grandfather on their Sunday morning fishing excursions, comes to understand his grandfather in a new way.

Johnston, Tony and Harvey Stevenson illus. Little Rabbit Goes to Sleep. HarperCollins, 1994. Grandpa helps little bunny understand the night in this delightful story for helping little ones sleep.

Keens-Douglas, Richardo and Frances Clancy illus. Grandpa's Visit. Annick Press, 1996. When Grandpa comes to visit from the Caribbean, Jeremy is too busy for much besides TV and video games, until Grandpa gives the whole family a simple gift.

Keller, Holly. Grandfather's Dream. Greenwillow, 1994. A small boy shares his grandfather's dream of helping the cranes, a symbol of good luck, return to their Vietnam village.

Kesselman, Wendy and Barbara Cooney illus. Emma. Picture Yearling, 1993. On Emma's 72nd birthday her four children, seven grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren give her a painting that prompts her to begin to paint and opens a whole new life for her.

Kindersley, Barnabas and Anabel. Children Just Like Me. DK Publishing, 1995. Published for UNICEF's 50th anniversary, share the lives, hopes, and dreams of children from around the world.

Koralek, Jenny and James Mayhew illus. The Boy and the Cloth of Dreams. Candlewick, 1996. A lyrical tale about a special quilt made by grandma that helps a boy overcome his fears.

Leighton, Audrey O. and Rhonda Kyrias illus. A Window of Time. Nadja, 1995. Using the metaphor of a time machine, young Shawn comes to accept Grandpa's Alzheimer's.

Lemieux, Margo and Francis Livingston illus. The Fiddle Ribbon. Silver Burdett, 1996. Two children learn about their Scottish heritage during a summer visit with their grandparents.

Levinson, Riki and Diane Goode illus. Watch the Stars Come Out. Puffin, 1985. A little red-haired girl curls up by her grandmother to hear how, long ago, another little girl (her grandmother) crossed the Atlantic to come to America.

Lindbergh, Reeve and R. Isadora illus. Grandfather's Lovesong. Viking, 1993. A poetic description of a grandfather's love for his grandson, using nature metaphors through the seasons.

Lindbergh, Reeve and Stephen Lambert illus. What Is The Sun? Candlewick, 1994. In delightful rhyming text, a grandmother answers all of her grandson's questions about the world as he gets ready for bed.

MacLachlan, Patricia and Mike Wimmer illus. All the Places to Love. HarperCollins, 1994. A young boy describes his favorite places on his grandparents' farm and their connection to his family legacy.

MacLachlan, Patricia and Deborah Ray illus. Through Grandpa's Eyes. Harper & Row, 1980. John learns a rich and detailed way of seeing the world from his blind grandfather.

Marsden, John. Prayer for the Twenty-First Century. Star Bright Books, 1998. Illustrated with paintings, photos, and collages, this compelling call from the heart contains a message of hope that is a legacy we would wish for all our loved ones.

Martin Jr., Bill, John Archambault and Ted Rand illus. Knots on a Counting Rope. Henry Holt, 1997. The story of a Native American grandfather and grandson sharing family stories that give the boy love, courage, and hope.

Matze, Claire Sidhom and Bill Farnsworth illus. The Stars in My Geddoh's Sky. Albert Whitman, 1999. When Alex's grandfather visits from the Middle East they get to know each other and exchange cultural lessons.

Mayer, Mercer. Just Grandma and Me. Golden Books, 1983. Little Critter and his grandmother spend a delightful day together at the beach.

Mayer, Mercer. Just Grandpa and Me. Golden Books, 1985. Little Critter and his grandfather go on a shopping expedition together in the big city.

McCain, Becky Ray and Stacey Schuett illus. Grandmother's Dreamcatcher. Albert Whitman, 1998. When Kimmy has bad dreams, Grandmother shows her how to make a dreamcatcher.

McFarlane, Sheryl and Ron Lightburn illus. Waiting for the Whales. Orca, 1991. An old man has only the whales in the nearby ocean to keep him company until his granddaughter gives him a renewed purpose in life.

Mellonie, Bryan and Robert Ingpen illus. Beginnings and Endings with Lifetimes in Between. Paper Tiger, 1983. A beautiful, moving book that explains the cycle of life.

Miles, Miska and Peter Parnall illus. Annie and the Old One. Little, Brown, 1971. Annie's Navajo world is good -- until she recognizes that her grandmother is going to die and must learn to accept the cycle of life.

Millard, Anne and Steve Noon illus. A Street Through Time. DK Publishing, 1998. Have you ever wondered what your street was like 100 years ago? This fascinating book traces the development of one street from the Stone Age through 14 time periods to the present day, including information about how people lived and what they did all day.

Mills, Claudia and Catherine Stock illus. Gus and Grandpa, Gus and Grandpa and the Christmas Cookies, Gus and Grandpa Ride the Train, Gus and Grandpa and the Two-Wheeled Bike, Gus and Grandpa at the Hospital, Gus and Grandpa and Show-and-Tell. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999-2001. A series of books about the close relationship between and adventures of Gus and his grandfather.

Mitchell, Margaree King and Larry Johnson illus. Granddaddy's Gift. Troll, 1998. Growing up on Granddaddy's farm in segregated Mississippi, a child learns about the value of education and the struggle for democracy.

Monk, Isabell and Janice Lee Porter illus. Hope. Carolrhoda Books, 1999. During a visit with her great-aunt, a young girl learns the story behind her name and to feel proud of her "mixed" heritage.

Mora, Pat and Cecily Lang illus. A Birthday Basket for Tia. Aladdin, 1997. To celebrate her great-aunt's 90th birthday, Mexican-American Cecilia gathers together a basket full of cherished memories.

Murdoch, Patricia and Kellie Jobson illus. Deep Thinker And The Stars. Three Trees Press, 1987. A gentle story reflecting native cultures, Deep Thinker remembers her grandfather when her baby brother arrives.

Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux and Kimanne Uhler illus. Always Gramma. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1988. A young girl describes what it's like when Gramma becomes increasingly confused and forgetful, and how she helps her.

Newman, Lesléa and Karen Ritz illus. Remember That. Clarion, 1996. Though Bubbe ages, she still has important life lessons to teach.

Nomura, Takaaki. Grandpa's Town. Kane/Miller, 1995. With text in both Japanese and English, a little boy worries that his widowed grandfather is lonely -- until he goes with him to a public bath and realizes how many friends Grandpa has.

Nye, Naomi Shihab and Nancy Carpenter illus. Sitti's Secrets. Aladdin, 1997. Mona comes to love Sitti (grandmother in Arabic) when she visits the elder in a Palestinian village and, on her return home to America, writes a heartfelt plea for peace to the President.

Oberman, Sheldon and Ted Lewin illus. The Always Prayer Shawl. Boyds Mills Press, 1994. A prayer shawl is handed down from grandfather to grandson in a story of Jewish tradition and the passing of generations.

Ogburn, Jacqueline K. and James Ransome illus. The Jukebox Man. Dial, 1998. Donna's grandfather services jukeboxes, and she discovers a whole new world as she helps him out one day.

Oppenheim, Shulamith Levey and John Ward illus. Fireflies for Nathan. Tambourine, 1994. Nathan and his Nana and Poppy catch fireflies at their rural home, just as Nathan's father did when he was young.

Orr, Katherine. My Grandpa and the Sea. First Avenue Editions, 1991. Grandpa teaches Lila many lessons as he must find another way to make a living when the big industry takes over the fishing trade on his Caribbean island.

Paul, Ann Whitford and Maggie Smith illus. Everything to Spend the Night from A to Z. DK Publishing, 1999. A humorous tale about a girl who visits her grandfather and packs items for every letter in the alphabet.

Pellegrino, Marjorie White and John Lund illus. My Grandma's The Mayor. Magination, 2000. A story that portrays Annie's grandmother as a strong, confident woman and community leader, and shows how Annie learns to share her grandmother.

Polacco, Patricia. Babushka Baba Yaga. Philomel Books, 1993. The legendary Baba Yaga disguises herself to share her love as a grandmother.

Polacco, Patricia. Mrs. Katz and Tush. Picture Yearling, 1994. An African-American boy becomes good friends with his neighbor, an elderly Jewish widow, when he gives her a kitten to adopt.

Polacco, Patricia. The Keeping Quilt. Simon & Schuster, 1998. A homemade quilt ties together the lives of four generations of a Jewish family.

Polacco, Patricia. Thunder Cake. Paper Star, 1997. A grandmother helps her young granddaughter overcome her fear of thunderstorms by baking a cake together; includes a recipe to bake a Thunder Cake.

Rattigan, Jama Kim and Lillian Hsu-Flanders illus. Dumpling Soup. Little, Brown, 1998. Marisa makes dumpling soup with all the other women in the family and gets some special encouragement from grandma.

Reid, Barbara. The Party. Scholastic, 1999. A delightful tale, with unique illustrations, about all the family fun at Grandma's birthday party.

Rochelle, Belinda, and Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu illus. Jewels. Lodestar, 1998. The "jewels" of the title are family stories of African-American history Lea Mae hears on her summer vacation with her great-grandparents.

Romain, Trevor. What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies? Free Spirit, 1999. A compassionate, straightforward book for children who are dealing with a loss.

Roth, Susan L. Happy Birthday Mr. Kang. National Geographic, 2001. An affectionate tale about a Chinese-American grandfather and his grandson that explores themes of freedom, choice, and happiness.

Russo, Marisabina. Grandpa Abe. Greenwillow, 1996. Sarah's grandmother marries Abe and Sarah gets a wonderful grandfather, until she must learn to accept his death.

Ryan, Cheryl and Bill Farnsworth illus. Sally Arnold. Cobblehill Books, 1996. When Jenny visits Grandpa for the summer, she thinks Sally Arnold is a witch -- until she gets to know the elderly woman.

Rylant, Cynthia and Stephen Gammell illus. The Relatives Came. Aladdin, 1993. A lively description of a visit by a large family that celebrates family connections and affection.

Rylant, Cynthia and Diane Goode illus. When I Was Young in the Mountains. E.P. Dutton, 1982. A gentle story about a girl growing up in the Appalachian mountains with her grandparents.

Say, Allen. Stranger in the Mirror. Walter Lorraine, 1998. When Sam goes to bed he's a normal young boy, but when he wakes up he's an old man.

Schachner, Judith Byron. The Grannyman. Dutton, 1999. Simon is a very old cat who's just about ready to give up after a long and fulfilling life, until a new kitten enters the picture and an intergenerational bond develops.

Scheffler, Ursel and Ruth Scholte Van Mast illus. Grandpa's Amazing Computer. North South Books, 1997. When Ollie visits his grandfather, he discovers that although the man doesn't have a clue about Ollie's computer, he has an amazing computer of his own.

Schwartz, David M. and Bert Dodson illus. Supergrandpa. Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1991. The true story of a 66-year-old cyclist who rode in the tour of Sweden and challenged all the stereotypes.

Seuss, Dr. and Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher illus. My Many Colored Days. Alfred A. Knopf, 1996. A rhyming story that describes each day in terms of a particular color and emotion. Great for prompting an intergenerational discussion about emotions.

Shannon, George and David Soman illus. This Is the Bird. Houghton Mifflin, 1997. A cumulative tale about a wooden bird carved by a girl's maternal ancestor and lovingly passed down from mother to daughter through the generations.

Shaw, Eve. Grandmother's Alphabet. Scholastic, 2001. The message of this empowering alphabet book is simple: Grandma can be a zoologist, artist, banker, carpenter, doctor, engineer... and so can I.

Shelby, Anne and Wendy Anderson Halperin illus. Homeplace. Orchard, 2000. A grandmother tells her granddaughter about the family's history in the same house over a period of six generations, beginning with their ancestor who cleared the land and built a log cabin.

Shields, Carol Diggory and Hiroe Nakata illus. Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate. Dutton, 2000. A little boy and his grandfather share a special weekend doing things they both like to do. This story seems to be told by the child -- but on the last page we realize Grandpa has been the one telling it!

Shpakow, Tanya. Baba. Alfred A. Knopf, 1989. Convinced her Russian grandmother is magical, a little girl has a spirited adventure finding out where Baba goes every Monday night.

Shulevitz, Uri. Dawn. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1974. Inspired by a Chinese poem, this beautiful book tells of an old man and his grandson sharing the beauty of daybreak.

Smucker, Barbara and Janet Wilson illus. Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt. Stoddart, 1995. A story about the Mennonites during the Civil War, Selina and her family move far away, but Selina will always have the quilt her grandmother made and the memories that are part of it.

Stevenson, James. There's Nothing to Do! Greenwillow, 1986. When Mary Ann and Louie are bored, Grandpa enthralls them with a tall tale about the time he and his brother were bored.

Stolz, Mary and Pat Cummings illus. Storm in the Night. HarperTrophy, 1990. One night during a thunderstorm when the electricity goes off, Grandfather tells Thomas about his experience on a similar night when he was a boy and was very frightened.

Streich, Corrine (ed) and Lillian Hoban illus. Grandparents' Houses. Greenwillow, 1984. 15 poems about grandfathers and grandmothers from many cultures, including Japanese, Chinese, and Hebrew.

Sullivan, Silky and Bert Dodson illus. Grandpa Was a Cowboy. Orchard, 1996. Grandpa's tales of the past give his orphaned grandson a deep sense of his own heritage.

Thomassie, Tynia and Jan Spivey Gilchrist illus. Mimi's Tutu. Scholastic, 1996. Longing for a special tutu for an upcoming recital, Mimi gets some help from her mother, aunts, and grandmother who make her a "lapa" skirt and teach her about part of her African-American heritage.

Torres, Leyla. Liliana's Grandmothers. Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1998. One of Liliana's grandmothers, Mima, lives in New England while the other, Mama Gabina, lives in tropical Colombia. Liliana loves them both and does different things with each.

Tsubakiyama, Margaret Holloway, and Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu illus. Mei-Mei Loves the Morning. Albert Whitman, 1999. Set in contemporary China, this story tells of a typical morning in the life of young Mei-Mei and her grandfather.

Tusa, Tricia. Maebelle's Suitcase. Aladdin, 1991. One of the few books where the main character is a centenarian (108 years old to be exact!), Maebelle and her little bird friend enter a special hat in the annual town contest.

Varley, Susan. Badger's Parting Gifts. Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1984. Badger's animal friends are sad when he dies, but they treasure the legacies he has left them.

Vigna, Judith. Grandma Without Me. Albert Whitman, 1984. A young boy finds ways to keep in touch with grandma despite his parents' divorce.

Walker, Alice and Catherine Deeter illus. To Hell With Dying. Harcourt Brace, 1988. A rich, unique, and tender portrayal of the special relationship between old Mr. Sweet and the children down the road.

Walsh, Jill Paton and Stephen Lambert illus. When I Was Little Like You. Viking, 1997. Simple now-and-then comparisons as Rosie and Gran go for a stroll are ideal for inviting children to question their own elders.

Watts, Jeri Hanel and Felicia Marshall illus. Keepers. Lee & Low, 2000. Kenyon has been saving to buy his grandmother, Little Dolly, an extra special gift for her 90th birthday. When he spends the money on a baseball glove, he comes up with a creative gift that is also a way to preserve the family stories his grandmother tells him.

Wayland, April Halprin and George Booth illus. It's Not My Turn To Look for Grandma! Knopf, 1995. A farm family takes turns keeping track of their mischievous grandmother, who joins in with the farm animals in a riotous display of joke telling, haystack sliding, card shuffling, and banjo playing.

Weiss, George David, Bob Thiele, and Ashley Bryan illus. What a Wonderful World. Sundance, 1994. Inspired by Louis Armstrong's wonderful old song, this book is a great way to share a timeless message that can bring young and old together.

Wells, Rosemary and Greg Shed illus. The Language of Doves. Dial, 1996. On her sixth birthday, Julietta receives a dove and a story from her Italian grandfather and comes to learn the "language of the doves" in a way that links the girl to her grandfather forever.

Wild, Margaret and Ron Brooks illus. Old Pig. Dial, 1996. Old Pig and Granddaughter have lived together for a long time, and they take one last, long walk together to savor the beauty of life around them.

Wild, Margaret and Julie Vivas illus. Our Granny. Houghton Mifflin, 1994. From the intimacy of one family to the rich diversity of all kinds of people, this exuberant book, told from the perspective of a small child, celebrates grandmothers.

Williams, Vera B. A Chair for My Mother. Greenwillow, 1984. After a fire destroys their home and possessions, Rosa, her mother, and her grandmother save their money to buy a big, comfortable chair they can all share.

Wilson, Janet. Imagine That! Stoddart Kids, 2000. On her hundredth birthday, Auntie Violet reminisces with her great grandniece, and wonders at all the changes that have taken place over her lifetime.

Winslow, Barbara and Teri Sloat illus. Dance on a Sealskin. Alaska Northwest, 1995. In the tradition of Alaska's Yupik Eskimo communities, Annie's grandmother is helping her prepare for her coming-of-age ceremony, her "first dance," but does not live to see the event.

Winston's Wish (Diana Crossley with Kate Sheppard illus). Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine: Your Activity Book to Help When Someone Has Died. Hawthorn Press, 2000. An activity book that offers practical and sensitive support for bereaved children (such as a child who has lost a grandparent) and that can become a keepsake in the years to come.

Wood, Audrey and Don Wood Illus. The Napping House. Harcourt Brace, 1984. A delightful cumulative tale that all starts with a snoring granny -- it's just plain fun!

Wyse, Lois, Molly Rose Goldman and Marie-Louise Gay illus. How to Take Your Grandmother to the Museum. Workman, 1998. Written by a real grandmother and her ten-year-old granddaughter, this is a story about their shared adventure in a museum.

Yolen, Jane and Melissa Bay Mathis illus. Grandad Bill's Song. Paper Star, 1998. As a little boy tries to understand his grandfather's death, he sees his grandfather through the eyes of each member of the family.

Yolen, Jane and Floyd Cooper illus. Miz Berlin Walks. Puffin, 2000. At first, Mary Louise is afraid of old Miz Berlin, until one day she realizes all the wonderful stories the woman has to tell. A tender tale about an intergenerational, interracial friendship.

Yolen, Jane and Laurel Molk illus. Off We Go. Little Brown, 2000. Rhythmic text and motion-filled art help a variety of creatures -- mouse, frog, duck, snake, mole, spider -- make their individual ways to "Grandma's house."

Zolotow, Charlotte and James Stevenson illus. I Know a Lady. Puffin, 1984. A simple story about how simple kindnesses -- like a wave on the way to school and cookies sprinkled with red and green dots -- can bridge the generation gap.