Grandparenthood – Part Two

Posted by suzanne  at December 21st, 2012

Canadians love to read. As I head out to the bookstore to pick up some Christmas gifts, I am reminded of this. We are a country of readers and should all be born with a library card in our pocket.

As parents, we instil a love of reading in our kids and teach them to read at an early age. As grandparents, we really enjoy reading to our grandchildren. Reading brings immense joy. What could be more delightful than to sit with a child on your lap, cuddling as you read an adventure or look at a picture book together? Moreover, this is a wonderful way to stimulate a young mind because sitting together and reading is foundational for child development during the early years.

I have been on the lookout for children’s stories that portray wonderful family relationships that are intergenerational, especially books that have images of vivid, engaging grandparents. I have collected some real treasures. Here are a few of the favourites from my shelf:

• The Bye-Bye Pie by Sharon Jennings, illustrated by Ruth Ohi
• Bigbeard’s Hook: Nathaniel McDaniel and the Magic Attic by Evan Solomon, illustrated by Bill Slavin
• Night Noises by Mem Fox and illustrated by Terry Denton
• Someday by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds

I expect to see more books that provide positive images of seniors on library and bookstore shelves. As the population ages, books like the ones above will be written and published to meet the demand for good intergenerational stories. If you have some books to add to this list, I’d enjoy hearing about them.

Have a wonderful holiday. Happy reading to all!

P.S. Dear Readers - To the above list, I am adding:

• A Little Something: A Story about Love and Legacies by Susan V. Bosak, illustrated by Laurie McGaw, and
• Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes by Susan V. Bosak