Books About Grandparents: A Redeemed Reader Booklist

Grandparents appear in children's literature in ways that help kids anticipate visits, remember family traditions, and see older relatives in a positive light. Redeemed Reader compiled picture books and middle-grade novels that focus on those relationships, with short descriptions and age guidance so parents, teachers, and librarians can pick appropriate reads.

Representative picture books (examples and themes)

• Tea with Grandpa by Barney Saltzberg — a sweet choice for families separated by distance.
• Time Together: Me and Grandpa by Maria Catherine (and a corresponding grandma book) — simple, affectionate slices of time.
• Drawn Together by Minh Lê and Dan Santat — art becomes the bridge between a boy and his grandfather.

• Kailani's Gift by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young — a child planning a meaningful tribute for grandparents' anniversary.
• Fish Fry Friday by Winsome Bingham — a lively day of fishing and shared food with grandma.
• Between Us and Abuela by Mitali Perkins — migration and generational connection across years and borders.
• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña — community, kindness, and relationships framed around a grandparent figure.
• Yang — celebrates a grandmother's long life through gentle text and art.

Representative middle-grade titles (examples and themes)

• Lulu and the Cat in the Bag by Hilary McKay — grandmother staying with the children and the curiosity that follows.
• Sneve — a boy's summer with Dakota grandparents on the Rosebud Reservation.
• Caterpillar Summer by Gullian McDunn — biracial siblings reconnecting with estranged grandparents.
• Death by Toilet Paper by Donna Gephart — a story that pairs humor with a grandfather who has dementia.
• Roar by Varsha Bijaj — a visit to a grandfather's tiger preserve and threats to that place.

Middle-grade picks expand themes: reconciling with grandparents, learning family history, caregiving and illness, and grandparents as sources of knowledge or adventure.

Redeemed Reader notes it is an independent review organization and does not accept payment for reviews. The site participates in several affiliate programs, so purchases through linked titles may earn a commission. The list links each title to a Redeemed Reader review where readers can find fuller assessments and any content considerations mentioned in those reviews.

• Parents seeking read-alouds to prepare children for a visit with grandparents.
• Teachers assembling units on family, tradition, or intergenerational relationships.
• Librarians planning displays for Grandparents Day or family literacy programs.

This booklist offers a practical selection of picture books and middle-grade novels that depict the many ways grandparents and grandchildren connect—through crafts, food, travel, memory, and shared interests—along with pointers to full reviews on Redeemed Reader.