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Children's Books about Family Relationships and Experiences
Compiled by Jennifer Birckmayer, Janette Cohen,
Isabelle Doran Jensen, and Denyse Altman Variano
This book list complements "Kyle Lives with His Granny-Where Are His Mommy and Daddy? Supporting Grandparents Who Raise Grandchildren," published in the May 2005 issue of Young Children. The books listed are intended to help families and caregivers navigate the wide variety of emotions and situations that affect the lives of young children.
- Aarvy Aardvark Finds Hope by Donna O'Toole. 1988. All ages.
- An aardvark's delayed grief over the loss of a family member begins to heal through the support of a caring friend.
- Abuela by Arthur Dorros, illus. by Elisa Kleven. 1995. Ages 4-8.
- Abuela's Weave by Omar S. Castañeda, illus. by Enrique O. Sanchez. 1993. Ages 4-8. (Available in Spanish: El Tapiz de Abuela)
A young Guatemalan girl and her grandmother weave some special creations that they hope to sell at the market.
- The Button Box by Margarette S. Reid, illus. by Sarah Chamberlain. 1990. Ages 4-8.
- A child explores the treasures in his grandmother's button box.
- Can You Do This, Old Badger? by Eve Bunting, illus. by LeUyen Pham. 2000. Ages 4-8.
- Although Old Badger cannot do some things as easily as he used to, he can still teach Little Badger a lot about catching fish, eating worms, and staying safe and happy.
- Daddy, Will You Miss Me? by Wendy McCormick, illus. by Jennifer Eachus. 1999. Ages 4-6.
- A boy and his father think of many different ways to be in touch while the daddy spends a month in Africa.
- The Day Gogo Went to Vote by Elinor Batezat Sisulu, illus. by Sharon Wilson. 1996. Ages 5-8.
- Six-year-old Thembi accompanies her 100-year-old grandmother who is going to vote in the first election in which Black South Africans are allowed to participate.
- Dinosaurs Divorce: A Guide for Changing Families by Laurene Krasny Brown and Marc Brown. 1986. Ages 5-12.
- Dinosaur characters depict the range of experiences and feelings encountered by children whose parents have divorced. Simple, direct text and lively pictures encourage young readers to acknowledge and express their own fears and reactions to this experience.
- Do I Have a Daddy? A Story about a Single-Parent Child by Jeanne Warren Lindsay, illus. by Jami Moffett. 1991. Ages 4-8.
- This story provides a model for how to respond to children's questions about a parent they have never seen.
- An Elephant in the Living Room: The Children's Book by Jill M. Hastings, illus. by Marion H. Typpo. 1984. Ages 7-12.
- This book helps children from families dealing with alcoholism learn about the disease and new ways to handle feelings.
- Everett Anderson's Goodbye by Lucille Clifton, illus. by Ann Grifalconi. 1983. Ages 4-6.
- Everett Anderson has a difficult time coming to terms with his grief after his father dies.
- Good-Bye, Daddy! by Brigitte Weninger, illus. by Alan Mark Illush. 1995. Ages 4-9.
- After spending the day with his daddy, a young bear is sad and angry that his father has to leave. He comes to learn that even when a father has to live in another home, the love and caring never go away.
- Grandmother's Adobe Dollhouse by MaryLou M. Smith, illus. by Ann Blackstone. 1984. Ages 5-8.
- A tour of Grandmother's dollhouse provides her grandson with information about the architecture, art, food, and culture of New Mexico.
- Grandmother's Nursery Rhymes / Las Nanas de Abuelita compiled by Nelly Palacio Jaramillo, illus. by Elivia Saradle. 1994. Ages 4-8.
- Here is a collection of lullabies, tongue twisters, and riddles in English and Spanish from South America.
- Grandpa, Is Everything Black Bad? by Sandy Lynne Holman, illus. by Lela Kometiani. 1998. Ages 5-8.
- An African American boy hears about his African heritage and learns to be proud of his dark skin.
- Grandpa's Garden by Shea Darian, illus. by Karlyn Holman. 1996. Ages 5-8.
- Every Saturday Grandpa and grandchild work in the garden, sharing words and thoughts. After Grandpa has a heart attack, his grandchild works alone for a time.
- The Hickory Chair by Lisa Rowe Fraustino, illus. by Benny Andrews. 2001. Ages 4-8.
- A boy who is blind remembers his loving relationship with his grandmother and the gift she left him after her death.
- It's Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr. 2001. Ages 4-8.
- There are many ways to be different, and all of them are okay.
- Keeping Up with Grandma by John Winch. 2000. Ages 4-8.
- When Grandma decides that it is time to have fun outdoors, Grandpa has trouble keeping up.
- Kele's Secret by Tololwa Mollel, illus. by Catherine Stock. 1997. Primary.
- A young African boy who lives with his grandparents on their coffee farm follows a hen to find out where she hides her eggs.
- Kids and Grandparents: An Activity Book by Ann Love and Jane Drave. 1999. Ages 5-12.
- Here is a collection of activities to help grandparents and grandchildren stay committed and build on their special relationship.
- A Lei for Tutu by Rebecca Nevers Fellows, illus. by Linda Finch. 1998. Ages 4-8.
- Nahoa and her grandmother plan to make a particularly beautiful lei for Lei Day. When grandmother becomes ill and is taken to the hospital, Nahoa devises a special plan to cheer her up.
- Let's Talk about Living with a Grandparent by Susan Kent. 2000. Ages 6-10.
- This book explains what it's like to live with a grandparent and gives some hints for ways to make the relationship work.
- Love Is a Family by Roma Downey, illus. by Justine Gasquet. 2001. Ages 4-8.
- Lily worries that she will be the only kid in her class to bring just one person to Family Fun Night, but she discovers there are many kinds of families, including grandparents raising a grandson.
- Mei-Mei Loves the Morning by Margaret Holloway Tsubakiyama, illus. by Cornelius VanWright and Ying-Hwa Hu. 1999. Ages 3-6.
- A young girl and her grandfather spend the morning at the park in a big city in China.
- My Grandma Has AIDS: Annisha's Story by Valerie Reeder-Bey and Annisha Monic Wiburn. 2000. Ages 6-10.
- Annisha lives with her grandmother, who is HIV positive. Young readers learn it is safe to live with, kiss, and hug someone they love who is infected with AIDS.
- Nonna by Jennifer Bartoli, illus. by Joan Drescher. 1975. Ages 4-7.
- A boy tells about the death of his grandmother. The story portrays how young children respond to the death of a loved one.
- Our Granny by Margaret Wild, illus. by Julie Vivas. 1993. Ages 4-8.
- A celebration of grandmothers!
- Remember Me by Margaret Wild, illus. by Dee Huxley. 1990. Ages 4-8.
- Although she may forget many things, Grandma remembers the special times she and Ellie have shared.
- Robert Lives with His Grandparents by Martha Whitmore Hickman, illus. by Tim Hinton. 1995. K-grade 4.
- Robert's parents are divorced, and he lives with his grandparents. When his grandmother decides to attend Parents Day at school, Robert is afraid of what the other kids will think of him.
- The Saddest Time by Norma Simon, illus. by Jacqueline Rogers. 1986. Ages 4-8.
- Losing a loved one is the subject of these three gentle stories.
- Saying Good-Bye to Grandma by Jane Resh Thomas, illus. by Marcia Sewall. 1988. Ages 5-8.
- When her grandmother dies, seven-year-old Suzie and her parents go to the town where Mother grew up to attend the funeral.
- Secret of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman, illus. by T. Taylor Bruce. 1991. Ages 5-11.
- A young boy who is harassed by the school bully learns that he cannot overcome fear by running away or by becoming a bully himself.
- Sophie by Mem Fox, illus. by Aminah Brenda Robinson. 1994. Ages 5-10.
- Sophie grows bigger and her grandfather gets smaller, and they continue to love each other very much.
- Stuck on Earth: Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century by Marilyn Sadler, illus. by Roger Bollen. 1996. Primary.
- Zenon lives on a space station somewhere in the Milky Way, and her parents send her to her grandparents' farm on Earth for the summer.
- The Tenth Good Thing about Barney by Judith Viorst, illus. by Erik Blegvad. 1971. Ages 5-8.
- When his cat dies a boy tries to think of ten good things to say about his pet at the funeral.
- Through Grandpa's Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan, illus. by Deborah Kogan Ray. 1980. Ages 5-8.
- John learns about new sounds, smells, and ways of doing everyday things by "seeing" the world as his blind grandpa does.
- Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis, illus. by Laura Cornell. 1998. Ages 4-7.
- A child's emotions color and change each day, going from silliness to anger to excitement.
- What! Cried Granny: An Almost Bedtime Story by Kate Lum, illus. by Adrian Johnson. 1998. Ages 4-8.
- Patrick's first sleepover at his Granny's house is quite an adventure!
- What Grandmas Do Best and What Grandpas Do Best by Laura Numeroff, illus. by Lynn Munsinger. 2000. Preschool.
- Grandparents can do many things, but best of all they give you lots of love.
- When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown. 1996. Ages 5-10.
- This book explains the feelings people may have when a loved one dies and suggests ways to honor the dead.
- When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really Angry. . . by Molly Bang. 1999. Ages 5-8.
- Different people handle anger in different ways. When Sophie gets angry she climbs her favorite tree.
- You Are My I Love You by Maryann K. Cusimano, illus. by Satomi Ichikawa. 2001. Ages 4-8.
- Gentle verses about love between a parent and child, such as I am your parent / You are my child. / I am your quiet place / You are my Wild.
- You Hold Me and I'll Hold You by Jo Carson, illus. by Annie Cannon. 1992. Ages 4-8.
- When her great aunt dies, a child finds comfort at the memorial service being held and in holding too.
Jennifer Birckmayer, MA, has been a senior extension associate with the Department of Human Development at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, for 40 years. During that time she has been a teacher, trainer, speaker, and author.
Jan Cohen, MEd, is executive director of Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Otsego County, New York. She has worked in the field of education and human services for more than 20 years. She is the author of "Help for Grandparents of Children with Developmental Disabilities," a six-workshop curriculum published by the New York State Office for Aging.
Isabelle Doran Jensen, MS, is an extension resource educator for human development with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County, New York. She has worked with grandparent/caregiver relatives since 1991 and has been recognized with several awards from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Denyse Altman Variano, RN, MPS, is the senior extension resource educator in charge of human development programming for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County, New York. Denyse is the administrator for the Relatives as Parents Program in Orange County.
Copyright © 2005 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. See Permissions and Reprints online at http://www.journal.naeyc.org/about/permissions.asp
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