Summer is knocking on the door — prime time for kids and grandparents to spend their irreplaceable time together. Whether grandparents are down the hall or across the globe, they have a special place in children’s hearts, and these warm-hearted books pay tribute to that unique relationship.
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“Together With You” by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis. (Ages 3 through 7. Candlewick Press. $17.99.)
Through spring, summer, fall and winter, a grandmother and grandson spend happy moments together, enjoying the seasons, whether they’re dashing “through the drops, side by side” during a spring shower or nestling together in a comfy chair “while outside the snowy winds blow.”
The seasonal poems are filled with unpredictable weather and the reliable love of a boy and his grandma, because “in winter or autumn or summer or spring, a day spent with you is the very best thing.”
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“Something About Grandma” by Tania de Regil. (Ages 4 through 8. Candlewick Press. $18.99.)
When a new baby is on the way, Julia goes to stay for the summer with her grandma in a flower-covered house in a little town outside Mexico City. From the sweet bread they eat in the morning to the fragrant garden and Grandma’s herb-filled cooking, “everything seemed different, and everything was new to Julia.”
And when homesickness strikes, Grandma reveals another of her gifts — the ability to gently comfort and cuddle Julia, making her “feel warm all around.”
Tenderly illustrated, with pictures that include fragments of poems created by Tania de Regil’s great-grandfather and handwritten by her grandmother, this book is packed with the sights, smells and tastes of Mexico — and the joy of time spent with an “absolutely magical” grandma.
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“Nana, Nenek & Nina” by Liza Ferneyhough. (Ages 4 through 8. Dial Books for Young Readers. $17.99.)
Nina’s grandmothers live on opposite sides of the world — Nina is in San Francisco, her nana is in England, and her nenek is in Malaysia. This loving ode to staying close to distant grandmothers describes the differences between puddle-hopping in England and somersaulting through a steamy yard in Malaysia, and the different food, games and languages.
Weekend Scoop
Nina also delights in what’s the same — the warmth and love — and the feeling of connection with her grandmothers: “When she visits, it’s nice not to miss them. She’ll miss home instead for a little while.”
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“Babajoon’s Treasure” by Farnaz Esnaashari, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali. (Ages 4 and up. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. $18.99.)
Every summer, Miriam spends a week with her grandparents, enjoying picnics, walks and treats — but one day, she uncovers a mystery. Her babajoon (grandfather) has a mysterious gold coin in his pocket, talks with parrots, and speaks a strange language ... clearly “my Babajoon is a pirate!” she thinks.
When she shares her conclusion, however, her babajoon chuckles and explains the real solution to the mystery — that he grew up in Iran and has held on to reminders of his childhood, including the chance to speak Farsi with friends and enjoy traditional treats, “to feel a little bit of home.”
Even more enchanted, Miriam entreats him to teach her more about her family’s language and history, creating new connections between them, and looks forward to the day she can “be just like him.”
Caroline Luzzatto has taught preschool and fourth grade. Reach her at luzzatto.bookworms@gmail.com