With Grandparents’ Day in the UK coming this Sunday, 6th October, here is a list of 5 picture books that will bring inspiration as we celebrate these important relationships.
1.Joy, by Corinne Averiss and illustrated by Isabelle Follath, is the story of a little girl named Fern who is searching for joy to bring back to her Nanna’s life. Will she manage to bring a smile back to Nanna’s face? ‘Joy shows the positive impact that children and grown-ups can have on each other, but also brings some health issues. It is an excellent gift edition for children between 3 and 6.
2. Grandpa Green by Kate Greenway and Caldecott winner Lane Smith celebrates the life of a great-grandfather by strolling into a topiary-shaped garden. It is suitable for cross-curricular planning to use in History lessons to plot events from one’s life on a timeline. It offers visually engaging art.
3. Theresa Heine’s Elephant Dance: A Journey to India, illustrated by Sheila Moxley, highlights the importance of family and learning about another country, specifically India. The story is told by a grandfather who visits his grandchildren, who have settled in a foreign land. Its vibrant colours and comparisons make readers aware of the physical and cultural differences of the world.
4.If All the World Were … by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Allison Colpoys, is a story about a shared love that continues beyond existence and deep feelings that give about cherished people missing from our lives. A book that helps children navigate feelings of loss.
5. The Bumblebee Garden, by Down Casey and illustrated by Stella Lim, unfolds as a conversation between Ben and his granddad in a beautifully presented picture book that combines fiction with nonfiction. It is a slightly longer story that celebrates the outdoors and encourages young readers to care for the environment.
