Miss Debby's Best-Loved Children's Books: Books for Grandparents to Share With Their Grandchildren

The Charlotte Jewish News August 2022

By Debby Block

My Grandma Florence always said, “The love between a grandparent and a grandchild is the purest kind of love,” and now that I am a grandparent, I agree wholeheartedly! My bestloved books this month feature grandparents!

“Tea With Zayde” by Barney Saltzberg is a truly charming book that depicts the close bond between a grandfather and his granddaughter, who share a virtual tea party every afternoon. Perhaps this is the perfect book for these times when grandparents are not always able to visit with grandchildren in person. Share this book with your grandchild, and you may decide to create a regular tea party as well! Recommended for children ages 1-3.

My grandchildren call me Lolly and my husband Pops. No matter what your grandchildren call you, this best-loved book is two books in one! “A Grandma Like Yours” and its flip side, “A Grandpa Like Yours” by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum feature joyous Jewish celebrations with animal grandparents and their grandchildren. With its simple text and bold, colorful illustrations, I recommend this PJ Library picture book for children ages 1-4.

Grandmothers come in all shapes, sizes, and religions. What happens when grandparents come from different backgrounds and traditions? In “Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup” by Pamela Mayer, Sophie visits her Bubbe and enjoys kreplach, and when she visits her Nai Nai (grandma in Chinese), she enjoys wontons. In the end, the two grandmothers combine their chicken soup recipes to create a special blend, made with the most special ingredient — love! Recommended for children ages 3-6.

The New York Times bestselling “How to Babysit a Grandma” by Jean Reagan celebrates the special bond between grandparent and grandchild. The twist in this book is that the young child is in charge of planning the shared activities. As you can imagine, the babysitting entertainment includes going to the park, dressing up, and spreading sprinkles on everything. This humorous picture book and its sequel, “How to Babysit a Grandpa,” will delight children and give every grandparent a chuckle too. Recommended for children ages 3-5.

One of my favorite Jewish chapter books is “When Life Gives You OJ” by Erica S. Perl. Zellie Fried wants a dog more than anything. Her eccentric grandfather, affectionately known as “Ace,” devises an outlandish plan and presents Zellie with a practice dog made of a plastic orange juice bottle. If Zellie routinely feeds, walks, and takes care of the OJ bottle dog, perhaps she can earn the privilege of getting a real dog. I highly recommend this heartwarming book for its humor and its depiction of the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Recommended for children ages 6-11.

Miss Debby’s best-loved books are available at the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library. Stop by the library or contact us at (704) 944-6783 or library@ jewishcharlotte.org to reserve a copy today!