In the United States, it is Grandparents Day this weekend. The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is so special and definitely something to celebrate! I got to experience the magic of it with my grandparents when I was growing up, with summer visits, special celebrations, and a big chunk of time where one set of my grandparents lived just one block away. And now that I have a two-year-old, I’ve gotten to see up close the beautiful relationship between my son and my parents develop right from the beginning. My son loves it whenever he gets to see his grandparents, whether that’s in person or on a video call, and he adores fictional grandparent characters in books and other media (we may or may not have watched the “Visiting Grandpere” episode of Daniel Tiger over ten times at this point).

I know my son isn’t alone because when I started looking for picture books to celebrate Grandparents Day this year, I found almost 20 picture books featuring grandparents published in the last year alone. And there were probably even more! I thought it was so beautiful to read about how grandparents care for their grandchildren, offer them deep understanding, and pass down culture and family traditions. From a grandson’s invitation to slow down and spend time together when visiting Granddad to a Bubbe and Granddaughter making a summer bucket list, these five beautiful stories celebrate the amazing role grandparents play in children’s lives.

5 New Picture Books Featuring Grandparents

Spendin’ Time by Gary R. Gray Jr., illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell

On a trip to visit his grandparents, a young boy and his Granddad leave the house with a list from his Nan of food to pick up for her to make dinner. But instead of completing the errand with maximum efficiency, as the boy expects, Granddad suggests going berry picking, and even sneaking in ice cream before dinner. And while they are “spendin’ time” together, Grandad points out the important places and memories in their Nova Scotia town. The sweetness continues when the duo is greeted by Nan’s delicious apple pie. Nobody will spoil you like your grandparents! And this book celebrates that special relationship and the connections older generations give young people to the past.

The Explorers by Dee Hahn, illustrated by Ashlyn Anstee

Etta and Grandma Maisie have been going on adventures together for years. Etta’s mom and dad think their love of earthworm castles, gnome mazes, and bizarre food combinations is a bit odd, but Etta and Grandma Maisie have always understood each other. This year, they are both facing big changes: Etta is going to kindergarten, and Grandma Maisie is moving into a retirement home. At first, both of them feel misunderstood and weird, and it makes them each avoid meeting new people. But both learn to let their guard down when they find a pair of kindred spirits at the Grandparents’ Picnic. And they decide that they can still keep some things special to themselves, while still making new friends as well.

Where I Grew by Jashar Awan, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell

A grandfather and granddaughter take a walk through the forest. As they walk, they make connections between different elements in nature and their own family’s story. The granddaughter reflects on how her family worked hard to find the perfect place to both literally and figuratively put down roots. And she thinks about how this has influenced her life and will influence the future generations of her family. With soft illustrations and beautiful, sparse text, this book is a beautiful reflection on how grandparents connect children to larger family journeys.

Becca and Bubbe’s Bucket List by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Sarah Lynn Baker 

On the first day of summer, Becca learns about the concept of a bucket list from her Bubbe, who has crossed all but one item off hers. Together, they make a summer bucket list and work together to cross off Becca’s items. Having a water balloon fight is easy. And it’s delicious to order the giant ice cream sundae. But some items, like swimming in the ocean, are too hard to do without the help of Bubbe. And then at the end of summer, Becca gets the help of the other neighborhood grandmas to give Bubbe the chance to cross the last item off her bucket list.

The River of Caregiving by Jocelyn Chung, illustrated by Sarah Gonzales

This story begins with the narrator’s A-ma telling her that in their family, care flows between members like a river. This causes the child to look closer at the ways different people within their intergenerational family unit take care of each other in their daily lives. Her A-gong picks her up from school, and she translates for him when he has a doctor’s appointment. Her mother helps to bathe and dress A-ma, the way A-ma dressed her mother when she was a little girl. With extended family, there are care packages, gatherings for celebrations, and thoughtful check-ins as signs of care. This story really highlights how central the grandparents are to setting the tone of the family’s values of love, care, and reciprocity.

These five new picture books about grandparents show that no matter what you call them, the love grandparents have for their grandchildren is both special and singular. If you are celebrating Grandparents Day this weekend with any young readers, I suggest picking one or more of them up. And if you are lucky enough to have grandparents still in your life, maybe give them a call or send them a card to let them know how much they mean to you!

And for more grandparent love, here are even more children’s books about grandparents, and some of our favorite literary grandparents.