Children’s Books about Grandmothers
Grandparents play such an important role in the lives of children, even more so today. Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia have all officially recognized this by declaring the last Sunday of October Grandparents’ Day (QLD celebrates Grandparents’ Day on the first Sunday in November). I’m sure it won’t take long for the other states to follow.
I thought it would be a lovely gesture for children to share a special book with their grandparents on this day. Below is a list of my favorite grandmother-themed books that you’ll hopefully be able to find at your local bookstore or library.
Cooking with Grandma
By Rosemary Mastnak
ISBN:978-1921564192
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont, September 2009
Matched with whimsical illustrations and creative typography, young Anya stays with her grandparents for the week. Each day Anya and Grandma create a meal and an adventure for Grandpa.
Suitable for ages 2+
Dancing with Grandma
By Rosemary Mastnak
ISBN:978-1921288906
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont, April 2008
With delightful illustrations, songs, and actions, this is a beautiful book that celebrates the special memories Anya and her Grandma create. They spend quality time together dressing up, dancing, and using their imaginations.
Suitable for ages 2+
Nana’s Colours
By Pamela Allen
ISBN:978-0670075379
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Viking Australia (Penguin Books Australia), 2011
Exploring colors and patterns, this simple but colorful book sees each of Nana’s grandchildren bring her a bunch of colorful (stamped) flowers for her birthday.
Suitable for ages 1+
Little Ava Stories
By Elsie Munro
ISBN:978-1921136788
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Windy Hollow Books,
Little Ava Stories truly is a collection of LITTLE stories. The little stories are made up of just a few sentences each. Dedicated to her granddaughter, Elsie has written about the small moments that a grandmother finds warm and amusing.
She has used linocut illustrations in natural, earthy colors to convey her stories of playing with leaves in autumn, feeding birds in spring, and visiting the beach on a sky-blue day.
Little Ava Stories is minimalistic but it is a lovely, sentimental, little book.
Suitable for ages 2+
My Grandma’s Kitchen
By Louise Fulton Keats (recipes by Margaret Fulton)
ISBN:978-1742701141
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Hardie Grant Books, 1 April 2011
My Grandma’s Kitchen is a children’s cookbook that exudes warmth, love, and an appreciation for delicious food. It is essentially two books in one; aligned with a gorgeous little story are simple and enjoyable recipes. The story is narrated by Lulu who writes about her adventures in the kitchen alongside her Grandma and brother, George. Told in a child-like rhyme, the story shares meals eaten, conversations spoken, fancy terminology, and cooking tips and tricks. Read our review of My Grandma’s Kitchen.
Suitable for ages 3+
Spot Loves His Grandma
By Eric Hill
ISBN:978-0723259909
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books, March 2008
Also available as a board book
Spot spends time with his grandparents and enjoys helping his Grandma in this board book.
Suitable for ages 1+
My Grandma
By Jeanette Rowe
ISBN:978-0733314612
Format: Paperback
Publisher: ABC Books, April 2005,
This is a great read-aloud book for young children. Lifting the flaps on this cute book will reveal what’s special about Grandma. There is also room for children to add a photo of their own Grandma to the last page.
Suitable for ages: 1+
I Love My Grandma
By Anna Walker
ISBN:978-1741696363
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, July 2010,
Our friend, Ollie, spends the day picnicking, painting, playing, and singing with his Grandma in this pretty book.
Suitable for ages: 2+
Nanna’s Carrots
Author: Ros Tesoriero (Aunty Rozzy)
ISBN:978-0979985805
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Aunty Rozzy, January 2009
In her search for Nanna’s Carrots, Harriette finds out that Nanna’s Carrots come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and that they are a very versatile vegetable. She is amazed at how many ways she can enjoy Nanna’s Carrots!
Suitable for ages: 2+
I Love Grandma
By Lizi Boyd
ISBN:978-0763637286
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Candlewick (Walker Books)
A visit to Grandma’s house helps to create some very treasured moments.
Suitable for ages 2+
My Grandma and Me
By Rachel Flynn
ISBN:978-0143502326
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Puffin, March 2009
This grandma always has something special to do at her house. Rachael Flynn invites the reader to think about their own Grandma in her inclusive text.
Suitable for ages: 2+.
Piglet and Granny
By Wild Margaret
ISBN:978-1921504020
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Working Title Press, 29 June 2009
While Piglet waits a long time for her Granny to visit, she fills in the time by practicing all the things her Granny has taught her. A sweet book.
Suitable for ages 2+
Grandma’s Place
James Stead and Marjory Gardner
ISBN:978-1921136283
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Windy Hollow Books, November 2008
Jess shares what is special about her Grandma’s place and invites readers to share their own stories too.
Suitable for ages: 2+
With Nan
Author: Tania Cox
Illustrator: Karen Blair
ISBN: 978-1921136122
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Windy Hollow Books, March 2012
This is a book that demonstrates how much children can learn from their grandparents. Brought to life with beautiful illustrations, Simon takes a walk with his Nan who shows him how to pay attention to the small things in life
Suitable for ages: 3+
Love from Grandma
By Jane Tanner
ISBN:978-0670074099
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Viking Australia (Penguin Books Australia), August 2010
Emily must move away from her Grandma, but a strawberry plant from Grandma keeps her company until her Grandma can visit.
Suitable for ages: 3+
Our Granny
Author: Margaret Wild
Illustrator: Julie Vivas
ISBN:978-1862911956
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Omnibus Books (Scholastic),
< An amusing book that celebrates grandmothers in all their shapes and sizes
Recommended for ages 3+
My Grandma is Wonderful
By Nick Butterworth
ISBN:978-1406312430
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd, February 2008
A bold and beautiful tribute to all wonderful grandmas
Suitable for ages: 3+
My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch
By Graeme Base
ISBN:978-0670834983
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia, October 1990
A lively tale from Graeme Base about an Aussie Grandma like no other.
Suitable for ages: 4+
Grandma’s Gloves
By Cecil Castellucci
ISBN:978-1406327755
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Walker Books, November 2010
This is beautiful book for children who have recently lost their grandmother. A little girl remembers what her grandmother taught her, particularly about gardening.
Suitable for ages 5+
Grandma Joins the All Blacks
By Helen McKinlay
ISBN:978-1869506407
Format: Paperback
Publisher: HarperCollins New Zealand, February 2008
All grandmas know how to make things better and this Grandma is no exception. She puts a firecracker under the All Blacks team and even plays for them on game day in this nonsensical story.
Suitable for ages 5+
Mind Your Gramma!
Author: Yvonne Morrison
Illustrator: Nikki Slade Robinson
ISBN:978-1775430414
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Scholastic New Zealand, November 2011
This is an amusing book about a grandma who is always correcting her granddaughter’s grammatical errors. The corrections go over her granddaughter’s head, and she is confused by her grandma’s contribution to the conversation. As readers, you will giggle along to the double meanings being portrayed in the story.
Suitable for ages 6+
Ladder to the Moon
Author: Maya Soetoro-Ng
Illustrator: Yuyi Morales
ISBN:978-1406337730
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd, January 2012
With dream-like illustrations, this is a magical story about a young girl who joins her grandmother in heaven one special night. Before she must return home, they bring kindness, care, and help to the world, and it helps Suhaila learn about the grandmother she never met. Written by Barack Obama’s half-sister
Suitable for ages 6+
Older Readers
Our Gags
Catriona Hoy
ISBN: 978-1921529092
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, April 2011
There are three short stories in this illustrated early reader book that describe how helpful Gags (Grandma) can be when a new baby comes along.
Suitable for ages: 6+
The Day Grandma Came to Stay (and Spoilt My Life)
By Diana Kidd
ISBN:978-0207170119
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Angus & Robertson Children’s Books (Harper Collins), October 1990
Grandma-sitting isn’t as bad as it initially seems for Lucy, who gets up to adventures with her grandma and learns about her Italian heritage.
Suitable for ages: 9+
My Gran the Gorilla
By Jackie French
Illustrator: Stephen Michael King
ISBN: 978-0207200120
Format: Paperback
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia), December 2005
Part of the ‘Wacky Families’ series, TJ, and her Gran save the day when wombat poachers come to town.
Suitable for ages: 8+
Activity Books
To My Granny: Doodles for You
ISBN: 978-1921848216
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Hardie Grant Books, April 2011
A small format activity book for children to color and fill in before giving it to Granny as a gift.
Suitable for ages: 4+
I’m Glad You’re My Gran
By Cathy Phelan
ISBN:978-0230746619
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Black Dog Books (Walker Books)
Suitable for ages: 4+
BOOKS ABOUT GRANDPARENTS
Spot Visits His Grandparents
By Eric Hill
ISBN:978-0140558289
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Puffin UK (Penguin), September 1999
Suitable for ages 1+
Spot visits his grandparents and enjoys learning about his mum and he goes through an old family photo album.
Things I Love About Grandparents
By: Trace Moroney
ISBN: 978-1742487090
Format: Hardback
Publisher: The Five Mile Press Pty Ltd, November 2011
Suitable for ages 1+
Trace Moroney writes books that assist parents in helping their children to become positive thinkers. In this book, she looks at the positive aspects of relationships with grandparents.
The Ultimate Guide to Grandmas & Grandpas!
Author: Sally Lloyd-Jones
Illustrator: Michael Emberley
ISBN:978-0060756871
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperCollins, May 2008,
Playing with your grandparents, looking after them, loving them, and enjoying them; this book offers all the guidelines any grandchild would need to make the most of their time with their grandparents.
Suitable for ages 3+
The Big Book of Families
Catherine and Laurence Anholt
ISBN: 978-1406303513
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Walker Books, December 2006
A book full of poems about all family members, including Grandpas and Grannies.
Suitable for ages: 3+
