Grandma is the one who lets the dough be tasted before it goes in the oven, who keeps the good scissors somewhere a child can reach them, and who tells the story about your mother that your mother would rather she kept to herself. In children's books she arrives as Nana, Granny, Abuela, Halmoni, Lola, Popo, Laolao, Gram, and Mimi, and she is almost never scenery. She is the person with time, the one who remembers furthest back, the one whose kitchen or porch or bus route a child can describe from memory years later — and, often enough, the first serious loss a child has to live through.
Drawing from Bookroo's collection of 433 books about grandmas, our editors chose twelve worth keeping on a shelf. Some are for a visit or a Grandparents Day breakfast, some are the gift that still gets read five years later, and four are for the harder stretch when a grandmother is ill or already gone. Start with our favorites, then browse the board-book, picture-book, and chapter-book shelves below by age.
Three bear siblings join Grandma for a snowy baking day filled with treats and surprises.
A young boy spends the day with his grandmother, exploring their neighborhood and learning about the beauty in unexpected places.
A child spends the night at their grandma's house and they have a fun-filled evening together.
A boy's fear of the city transforms into wonder with Nana's magical cape.
A shy girl fears her classmates' reaction to her grandmother's tribal markings.
A young boy learns to say goodbye to a beloved family member.
A boy must find joy in Saturdays again after losing his beloved grandma.
Grandma is stitching a quilt out of the family's old clothes when she falls ill, and Tanya decides the work will not stop.
A storm approaches; can a girl and her grandma bake Thunder Cake in time?
A girl finds a creative way to bridge the language gap with her grandmother.
A girl must decide: make a deal with a magical tiger or risk losing her grandmother.
A boy discovers his grandma's secret past as a jewel thief and joins her daring heist.
Sturdy first books for the drive to Grandma's house, the flour on the floor, and the lap that is always free — ages 0–4.
A grandmother's love blossoms with the arrival of a new grandchild.
Discover the joy and love of a family Sunday dinner.
Grandma and grandchild embark on joyful adventures, celebrating their special bond.
Celebrate the sweet bond between Grandma and grandchild this holiday season.
Discover surprises as Grandma visits, sharing love and joy with her grandchildren.
Join a family's lively car journey to Grandma's house.
A special star reveals a grandma's wishes for her new grandchild.
A grandma bear's prayers wrap her grandbabies in love and faith.
Sophie and Grover's costume swap leads to a surprising Halloween twist.
Experience the unbreakable bond of love through Grandma's kisses.
Discover the secret ingredients of love and laughter in Grandma's kitchen.
A child and grandma share an unbreakable bond in this heartfelt tale.
Read-alouds about sleepovers and kitchens, sharp memories and soft hands, and the long-distance grandmothers a child mostly knows by phone — ages 3–8.
A child teaches their grandma a science experiment to make a volcano erupt with lava.
A boy's life is forever changed by a magical origami crane.
A birthday lemon tree gift leads to unexpected discoveries.
A young girl navigates a new school and a classmate who constantly teases her.
Kids form a club to cope with homesickness in a bustling city.
Can Betsy trust her wolf friend Zimmo on a cupcake delivery to Grandma?
A child's diary reveals the emotional journey of a grandmother entering care.
A girl in disguise rings the doorbell, sparking a playful family adventure.
A surprise guest demands Grandma Beetle leave, but she has a clever plan.
A girl faces a cunning wolf on her way to her grandmother's house.
A young girl faces her fear of breaking a board with her grandma's support.
Max wants a worm cake, Ruby insists on angel cake. Who wins?
Longer stories where the grandmother is the plot: the summer that changes everything, the secret she has kept for sixty years, the illness the family is not talking about — ages 6–12.
A contest for tidiness clashes with magical chaos at Ivy's grandmother's cottage.
A hidden letter reveals a mystery and a fortune. Can Candice and Brandon solve it before it's lost forever?
A young boy in Guatemala dreams of school but fears his grandmother's refusal.
Delsie faces life's storms, seeking family and friendship.
A young boy discovers a convention of witches at a hotel and must use his wits to survive their evil plans.
Orphaned sisters must stop a giant and uncover a fairy-tale conspiracy.
Two siblings face wild summers with their unpredictable grandmother.
A girl follows crows on a journey, discovering warmth and forming a new family.
A girl navigates loss and discovers her heritage's power to heal.
A girl uncovers her grandmother's secret past in the Dutch Resistance, revealing hidden family ties and wartime bravery.
A girl seeks to melt her stern grandmother's heart with mischief and stories.
A girl faces chaos with a ghost's unexpected plans and family antics.
