​If you are looking for a book about love to send your grandchild for Valentine's Day, we think these five picture books and five board books are the best children's books about love. 

There are oodles and oodles of books about love, and as Valentine’s Day approaches, we set out to find our favorites. Our criteria? For the most part, it was the same as the criteria for our other book picks: well-written stories that engage children, pictures that captivate, and words that stand up to repeated readings. But for books about love, there was one more requirement: they had to be stories that didn’t tip into the trap of being overly-sentimental. This meant best-sellers like Love You Forever don’t appear on our list!
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Instead, we include books that look at love through several different lenses. From a mother’s love for her child to a robot’s quest for the meaning of love, we found five delightful pictures books that will captivate your grandchildren as you read them over and over. And over!

Mama, Do You Love Me?
​by Barbara M. Joosse 
Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee

​I was delighted to see this book is still in print. The beautiful illustrations of the mother and child in the Arctic accompany a story that my children loved to hear over and over. As the child tests a mother’s love, both the character and the children listening learn that a parent’s love is unconditional and everlasting. I don’t think I’ve ever read it without a bit of a catch in my throat while reciting the lyrical words.
Get your copy now.

Viking in Love
​by Doug Cenko 

​This sweet, funny story stood up to the ultimate test: repeated requests for reading by a three-year-old. The words and story are simple, the pictures are engaging, and it has adorable kittens in a key role. The message about the power of love is straightforward enough for the youngest reader to grasp, without being overly sentimental or mushy.
​Send a copy to your grands today.

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Every year, the very first thing I do to prepare my house for Christmas is bring out our collection of Christmas books. There’s an incredibly tattered board book called “What Did Santa Bring?” which has survived since my son’s first Christmas over 30 years ago. There are four or five different versions of The Night Before Christmas, several editions of the story of the first Christmas, and an elaborate pop-up Christmas alphabet book that belongs in a museum which my beloved great-aunt gave us one year. There are books featuring snowmen, candy canes, woodland creatures, and Babar. There are big books and tiny books. There are more books than we can read in one holiday season—and I can’t get rid of any of them.

As soon as I had grandchildren, I started building their Christmas book collection. I try to limit myself to one book a year, knowing how quickly a collection grows. This year, they’ll be getting The Jolly Christmas Postman, which I actually bought three years ago and have been saving until they are old enough to appreciate it. It’s always so hard to choose!

In the hopes that you’ll start a Christmas book tradition for your grandbaby, we’ve sorted through the overwhelming number of titles to find the ones that will stand the test of time. Read on for all titles we recommend for baby’s first Christmas.

Moo, Baa, Fa La La La La! 
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Ah, what would a list of best board books be without something from Sandra Boynton? She doesn’t disappoint with Moo, Baa, Fa La La La La!, which features her classic characters and signature bouncy rhymes. It’s impossible to read without smiling—and will elicit smiles from your grandchild.

Buy it on Amazon.

The First Christmas 

If you are looking for a story about the birth of Jesus, this is a perfect first book. It tells the story of the first Christmas in simple words and charming pictures that will captivate your grandchild. This will definitely become a favorite.

Buy it on Amazon.

Mary Engelbreit’s A Merry Little Christmas Board Book: Celebrate from A to Z 
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The delightful Mary Engelbreit illustrations shine in this alphabetical Christmas story. The words themselves aren’t as lyrical as the original full-sized hardcover book, but that edition is no longer in print. The board book, with its sweet story about the mouse family’s Christmas, is still well worth buying for your grandbaby!

Buy now on Amazon.

Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale

In this beautiful take on the nativity story, animals seeking shelter are welcomed into the manger, with Mary on the donkey’s back appearing last. The theme of kindness and sharing come through, and it will be a requested book for years to come.

Buy it on Amazon.

​​Baby Touch and Feel: Merry Christmas  

​Perfect for the youngest babies! This DK Christmas board book has pictures and textures that will fascinate your grandbaby. It’s sized for little hands, and designed to be handled roughly! It’s a perfect way to introduce the sights of Christmas while developing early motor and language skills.

Buy it on Amazon.

Christmas in the Manger

The first Christmas is also the subject of this delightful book, which is told from the perspective of the animals in the manger. The illustrations are clean and bright, and the rhythmic words are a pleasure to read—and reread!

Buy it on Amazon.

Dear Santa: A Lift-the-Flap Book 

Rod Campbell’s lively drawings will delight your grandchild as Santa searches for the perfect gift for a special someone. Babies and toddlers love lifting the flaps to see what gifts are considered before the perfect one is revealed at the end.

Buy it on Amazon.

You might also like:

• Give the Gift of Tradition
• 6 Surefire Gifts for Babies
• Celebrating Your Grandbaby's First Holiday Season

There are dozens of board books for every subject and occasion, but many of them are created with little regard to whether they have any value to the reader. Good board books for babies and toddlers engage them with captivating images and rhythmic language. Quality books for the youngest readers expand their horizons with new concepts and rich vocabulary. Publishers know grandparents will buy board books with familiar characters, so they churn out a Clifford or Pete the Cat book for every holiday, expecting (and getting) sales without having to provide a quality book for babies and toddlers.
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It can be hard to sort through the mass of titles to find the few which stand out as Really Good Books. So we’ve done it for you! Here are six Halloween board books for babies and toddlers that will help your grandbaby learn, while providing a pleasant experience for the reader.

Eek! Halloween!
By Sandra Boynton 
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Sandra Boynton rarely disappoints, and Eek! Halloween! is not an exception. The bouncy rhythm of the text, the simple, animated drawings, and the silly story all add up to a delightful book for both reader and child. Your grandchild will love it.

​Order now from Amazon.

Baby Touch and Feel: Halloween (DK) 

Touch and feel books are always a hit! Simple images introduce Halloween elements with vocabulary building words and appealing textures. The soft fur of a black cat and the sticky goo in a cauldron are sure to captivate the youngest readers.

Order now from Amazon.

Five Little Pumpkins 
Illustrated by Lucy Barnard
 
This colorful retelling of a favorite preschool poem is a perfect one to share with your toddler grandchild. Lucy Barnard’s illustrations are cheerful and full of movement, and the well-made book will stand up to repeated readings.

Order now from Amazon.

Babies Love Halloween: A Lift-a-Flap Board Book for Babies and Toddlers
By Scarlett Wing 
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The chunky pages of the lift-a-flap books by Cottage Door Press are designed to hold up to the most enthusiastic of flap-lifters. This volume, dedicated to the fall holiday, is a fun way to introduce your grandbaby to the sights and sounds of the Halloween season.

Order now from Amazon.

Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin
By Tad Hills 

Fans of Duck & Goose, a pair of friends who enjoy simple adventures together, will love this fall escapade. The back-and-forth dialog will encourage little ones to chime in with a “No!” as the pair search high and low for a pumpkin.
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Order now from Amazon.

Spooky Pookie
by Sandra Boynton 
Perfect for any child who will be dressing up for the first time. Pookie needs to choose a Halloween costume, and goes through several options before deciding what to wear.

Order now from Amazon.

Six popular books about body image that my grandchildren and I all loved—and one we didn’t

Books can be highly beneficial in helping our grandchildren feel good about their bodies. Lists of books about body image abound, but we were looking for ones that had positive messages and were fun to read. Here are our top picks:
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I Like Me!  by Nancy Carlson focuses on self-acceptance. The simple, colorful pictures held my grandchildren’s attention, and the message was clear enough for the toddler in the group. I’d rate this as the top book in the category of body positivity for children from 1-3 years-old.

Order it now on Amazon.

​What I Like About Me! By Allia Zobel-Nolan, illustrated by Miki Sakamoto, celebrates the differences among us, like freckles and big ears, curly hair and unibrows. It ends with a mirror and the words “What is it you like best about YOU?” This was the book that the 4-year-old requested I have next time she visits, though I'm pretty sure it was mostly because of the mirror. 

​Order it now on Amazon.

Rot, the Cutest in the World! By Ben Clanton shares the message that being cute is in the eye of the beholder. The humor delighted the 6-year-old, while the 2- & 4-year-olds liked the actual cute animals in the book more than Rot, the mutant potato who won the cuteness contest. Does this mean they missed the message?

​Order it now on Amazon.

I Am Enough by Grace Byers, illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo. 
This one was pleasing to read out loud—it’s a lovely, lyrical poem about all the things a child is capable of doing and being. The language and pictures captivated all of the children, but none of them picked it as their favorite. Still, it's powerful in its depiction of children of every size, shape and color.  

​Order it now on Amazon.

Rock What Ya Got by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Kerascoët, was another book with rhyming verse. It was fun to read because of the peppy beat and positive message, and the kids wanted to pour over the pictures. The message, that instead of changing you should embrace what you already are, could be lost on the youngest kids; I’d recommend it for those five and up. 

Order it now on Amazon.

Abigail the Whale by Davide Cali, illustrated by Sonja Bougaeva, was definitely our favorite. Unlike most the other books in this category, Abigail the Whale actually tells a story.  The message is still clear: there’s power in your mindset, and it can help you celebrate your differences, overcome your fears, and protect you from the hurtful words of others. The pictures are simply beautiful, and the story is engaging enough to warrant a request to hear it twice in a row. 
Order it now on Amazon.

Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, is included on every body positivity list I found. I respectfully disagree with them all, and here’s why:

The main character, who has red hair “and something worse…FRECKLES!” hates her freckles because everyone teases her about them. The main message of the book is that even though she has these bad freckles, people still like her and she grows up and is able to find happiness. Rather than sending a positive message about freckles, the book makes it clear that they are a trial that can be overcome. The only message she gets from an adult in the book is that maybe her freckles will go away when she’s older.

As someone who was also called “Freckleface Strawberry”, I would have hated to read this as a child and discover that I was supposed to hope they went away. Instead, at roughly the same age as the character in the book, I encountered an adult who told me, “A face without freckles is like a sky without stars.” He made me feel like they were something special, and I've never wished them away. 

Let's share books with our children that make them feel good about themselves! And if you missed our post about What Grandparents Need to Know About Body Image, go read it now!

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These 8 Picture books about grandfathers make great gifts for grandfathers for Father’s Day or any occasion.

While grandmothers get the lion’s share of attention in the media, picture book authors are far more even-handed. Quality children’s books featuring grandfathers abound, and it was hard to choose our favorites! Here are eight pictures books with grandfathers that both we and our grandchildren love.

When Grandpa Give You a Toolbox 
by Jamie L.B. Deenihan

Written by the same author as When Grandma Give You a Lemon Tree, this story is just as much fun. When a boy gets a toolbox from his grandpa instead of the dollhouse he requested, he’s disappointed until he discovers how much he can do with it. The humor, storyline and colorful pictures are a celebration of community, compassion and hard work.

Drawn Together
by Minh Lê
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When the young boy in this story visits his grandfather who speaks another language, they can’t communicate. They cycle through confusion, frustration, and silence until they sit down and draw together. On paper, they discover a shared love of art and storytelling. With few words and gorgeous illustrations, this story of the bonds between a grandfather and grandson is a visual feast and moving tale.

A Stopwatch from Grandpa
​by Loretta Garbutt

This book tackles a difficult subject in a simple, understandable way. When a child inherits Grampa's stopwatch after he dies, it becomes a way to explore the stages of grief by remembering the time they spent together. A sensitive, child-centered way to talk about loss and love.

Grandfather’s Journey
by Allan Say
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Allen Say's story of his grandfather’s journey from Japan is a simple, beautiful tale about love and missing home. Though it has deep themes, the story and illustrations will capture the youngest readers. It’s a perfect way to start a conversation about where your family comes from.

The Song and Dance Man
by Karen Ackerman
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The idea of grandparents having had other roles in life is a revelation to most grandchildren. This Caldecott winning story about a grandfather who used to perform on the stage is a wonderful jumping off point for grandfathers to share stories of their younger days. Despite the subtle drawings and story about things outside their experience (tap dancing! Vaudeville! attics!), my grands were mesmerized.

How to Babysit a Grandpa
by Jean Reagan
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Perfect for reading with Grandpa! The instructions for how to babysit a grandpa come down to doing all the things he loves to do with his grandchildren. The silly premise and playful illustrations will make delight your grandchildren. This makes a great gift for grandpa from the grandkids!

The Bee Tree
by Patricia Polacco

When Mary Ellen tires of reading, her grandfather teaches her how to find honey. The spirited description of the chase through the countryside is read-aloud at its best, with lots of repetition and delightful words. The final message will please any grandparent who loves to read.

The Hello, Goodbye Window
by Norton Juster
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Nanna and Poppy's Window is the lens through which we see a delightful relationship between grandparent and grandchild. I immediately loved both the story and the colorful illustrations by Chris Raschka, and my grandchildren adored it, too. It stands up to repeated readings--even three in a row! Each time we read it, we have a different conversation inspired by the book.

Looking for books about grandmothers? See our picks here!

Is there any doubt that grandmothers are important? Not according to research, and not according to the authors of these eight picture books about grandmothers. We are constantly on the lookout for stories that feature grandmothers, and these are our current favorites.

Each of these books features a grandmother with a special relationship with her grandchild. Which one will you get to celebrate your relationship with your grandchild? (Click any title or photo to shop on Amazon!)

I Really Want to See You, Grandma
​by Taro Gomi
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Originally published in Japan, this delightful story tells the tale of Yumi and her grandmother’s frustrating attempts to visit one another. Its simple words and expressive pictures will appeal to the youngest grandchildren. 

When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree
by Jamie L. B. Deenihan
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This was a favorite of the grands, especially the six year-old. The grandmother in this book plays a small but key role in the story. The humor and colorful pictures share more than one important message, all wrapped up in an engaging plot. 

Nana in the City
by Lauren Castillo
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A Caldecott Honor book, Castillo’s wonderful images fill a book about perspective and the influence a grandparent can have on a child’s experience. Nana’s love for her grandson and his love for her come shining through the simple story. 

​Abuela
by Arthur Dorros
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The colorful, intricate illustrations take the reader on a magical trip through New York City with Rosalba and her abuela. With lots of Spanish words, a focus on family and references to immigration, this book can be a springboard for meaningful conversations with children. 

Last Stop on Market Street 
by Matt De La Pena

The relationship between CJ and his nana is an integral part of this award-winning story, and their bus trip across town is long enough to show how important Nana is to molding CJ’s experience of the world. The lyrical text is fun to read out loud to your grands.

The Hello, Goodbye Window
by Norton Juster

Nanna and Poppy's Window is the lens through which we see a delightful relationship between grandparent and grandchild. It stands up to repeated readings--even three in a row! Each time we read it, we have a different conversation inspired by the book.

How to Babysit a Grandma
by Jean Reagan

Perfect for reading with Grandma! Babysitting a grandma requires doing all the things she loves to do with her grandchildren. The silly premise and playful illustrations will make your grandchildren giggle.

​A Grandma’s Magic
by Charlotte Offsay

This one is a perfect gift for grandmothers. The story is lovely: the sentiment is sweet without being cloying and the words flow beautifully for reading aloud. The charming illustrations by Asa Gilland depict modern grandmothers of all sorts.

Looking for books about grandfathers? You can see some of our picks here!
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Spring is in the air! It’s a wonderful time to read about nature, and here are eight picture books that will help you share the wonders of this glorious season with your grandchildren. (Click on any image or title to order from Amazon today!)

​Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?  by Rita Gray 
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While the robin sits quietly on her nest, a pair of children listen to all the other birds as they walk around the neighborhood. With lilting rhymes and lively illustrations, this book will captivate young listeners while teaching them about the variety of birds and their calls.

At the end of the book is an “interview with a bird” that shares even more information for budding birdwatchers!

Getting this book for your grands? Make it a care package! Add an inexpensive pair of binoculars and a kids’ book on birdwatching. 

​Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring  by Kenard Pak

​As a boy and his dog take a walk through the countryside, they welcome all the signs of spring that they encounter.  They say goodbye to winter along the way in conversations with the birds, the brook and more. The gentle, sweet story and lovely illustrations make ​Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring a perfect book to read to a child nestled on your lap on an early spring day. 

​Over in a River: Flowing Out to the Sea  by Marianne Berkes 

As children meet the animals that live on the rivers of North America, they’ll want to slither like the snakes and slide like the otters. They’ll love the rhythm of the text, based on the classic “Over in the Meadow”, and the bright, detailed pictures. They won’t even realize they are learning about geography and habitats in this delightful counting book.
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In the back of the book there is additional information about the rivers and animals featured, as well as the music and lyrics to “Over in the River”.

​Secrets of the Vegetable Garden  by Carron Brown 

Children will learn all about how a garden grows in this book in the Shine-A-Light series. Each page about the inner world of a vegetable garden includes a hidden image that only appears when a light shines through it. Your grandkids will love it!

Make sure to add a flashlight to your cart if you order this book from Amazon. 

​Have You Ever Seen a Flower?  by Shawn Harris
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The bright, beautiful illustrations that earned this book a Caldecott Honor award show how a single flower can be experienced in many ways. The child in the story uses all five senses to appreciate the flower and all that it evokes. It’s a reminder to readers young and old to appreciate the beauty of the world! It makes a perfect read-aloud book with its thought-provoking questions, and the gorgeous pictures show up well on video chats.

​The Tree in Me  by Corinna Luyken 
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This beautiful book is another excellent conversation starter! The poetic text and exquisite illustrations of children enjoying the natural world show how much each of us is like a tree.

"The tree in me is strong. It bends in the wind, and has roots that go deep . . . to where other roots reach up toward their own trunk-branch-crown and sky."

Read this inspirational book to your grandchildren and then talk about your own strengths, gifts, and communities. 

​The Tree That Bear Climbed  by Marianne Berkes
 
The repetitive rhythm of The Tree That Bear Climbed is perfect for young children.  Young listeners will learn about the many parts of a tree in this twist on “The House that Jack Built”. Make sure to start by asking your grandchildren why they think the bear is climbing the tree and what they think will happen when he gets to the top!

​Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt  by Kate Messner 

Another beautiful book about the garden! In this one, a young girl and her grandmother share the cycle of the year in the garden: planning, planting and finally harvesting. The book’s clever illustrations share what is happening under the soil as well, giving children a worm’s eye view of the life underground. A glossary at the end of the book tells more about the animals you might encounter in your garden. Send some seeds  with this one!

​Jambo Books: A New Source for Gifts For Grandchildren

​I love getting asked to review children’s books. Recently, I was asked if I would be interested in taking a look at a sample box from a subscription service called Jambo Books, and naturally I said yes!

Jambo Books started when the founders were searching for high-quality books starring children of color in situations where children’s literature rarely places them — making friends, raising pets, loving grandparents and fighting dragons. The stories show that people of color can star in stories that aren’t historical or cultural in focus. They focus on finding books that give our children a vision of the world we all want to live in — diverse, vibrant and kind.

Of special interest to grandparents looking for books for your grandchildren, they offer the opportunity to create a customized bundle around the specific interests of your grandchild. Do you have a history buff? A lover of pets, trucks, unicorns or fairies? You can email them with information about your readers and they’ll respond with selections just for you.

They offer book bundles and individual books, sorted by age, ethnicity and other themes. It’s a great place to look for diverse books, because each one is carefully chosen by people who understand that the stories we tell our children matter.

And then there's the Jambo Book Club. For $34.99 your grandchild will receive two gorgeous, high-quality books each month that star a child of color in a key role. I received a selection of three books aimed at the youngest children. They came in a beautiful box, and would have delighted any child who received a special package in the mail.

What I liked

I was immediately impressed with the quality of the books. These were not the cheaply produced subscription book club editions I got when my children were young. There were two very sturdy board books, Love is a Truck and Nerdy Babies: Ocean, and one simple picture book, Let’s Dance.

The books were thoughtfully chosen for babies and toddlers. The pictures were bright and engaging, and the non-fiction subjects were appropriate for babies, who can’t yet grasp abstract concepts or follow story lines.

The diversity went beyond the characters. For example, Let’s Dance included pictures of more than just the standards: hula, hip hop, and square dancing were among the styles of dance shown.

What I didn’t like

My only quibble is with the “Nerdy Babies” label on the book about the ocean. I wish it had been called “curious babies”, instead of trying to equate curiosity with being a nerd.  I imagine the author of the series is trying to celebrate nerdiness, but for me it feels wrong to apply any label to a child, especially one that is often used as a slur by schoolchildren.
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Jambo books is an excellent resource for grandparents who want to ensure their grandchild is exposed to books that celebrate the diversity of children. For more information, visit their website.