Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

June is Seniors' Month.

(Now your initial thoughts might be that this post has been added to the wrong Toronto Public Library blog, but please be assured that it has not.)

Seniors play very important roles in the lives of all children. Inter-generational interactions should be encouraged and are beneficial for both young and old. In fact, there are often stories on the news about child care centres visiting seniors homes and the accompanying videos always show the joy on the faces of all involved.

The "every day" can include interactions between your child and an older adult too. Whether it's taking the time to chat with an elderly neighbour or simply smiling and saying "Hello!" to a kindly stranger when you are in line at the store.

Of course, the most important senior in a child's life is often their grandparen't and there are many picture books that celebrate the special relationship that they share with their nonna, opa, bubbe, grand-père, or whatever they call their grandparen't*.

(*Not all grandparen'ts are seniors, but all of them love to share a good story with their grandchildren, and perhaps every caregiver can find a good one on this list.)

Books about Grandmas:

All About Grandmas by Roni Schotter (Ages 3-6)

I Love My Grandma by Giles Andreae (Ages 2-5)

Grandma's Purse by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Ages 4-7)

Doing Things with The Grandchildren:

Cake Day! by Ellen Mayer (Ages 3-5)

Bumpety Bump! by Pat Hutchins (Ages 3-6)

Too Many Tomatoes by Eric Ode (Ages 3-6)

Ways to Stay Connected:

Grandma's Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood (Ages 2-5)

I Really Want to See You, Grandma by Tarō Gomi (Ages 4-8)

Tea with Grandpa by Barney Saltzberg (Ages 2-5)

Even Animals Have Grandparen'ts:

Baking Day at Grandma's by Anika Denise (Ages 3-5)

My Grandparen'ts Love Me by Claire Freedman (Ages 2-5)

Me and My Grandma! by Alison Ritchie (Ages 3-5)

Silly Stories – Silly Seniors:

The Napping House by Audrey Wood (Ages 2-7)

When Grandad was a Penguin by Morag Hood (Ages 3-7)

The Great Granny Gang by Judith Kerr (Ages 4-8)

Happy Seniors' Month everyone!