A little more than two years ago I shared a Teach it Forward column entitled “Books for my Grandbaby and Me.” As I celebrated the arrival of my first grandchild and marveled at the joy of becoming a first-time grandma, I embraced the chance to share my love of reading with this most precious future book lover. It was a match made in heaven … a little one to hold gently on my lap while sharing book after book. We would read, read, and read some more.
A year later, a second sweetheart would arrive and the happiness in my heart would expand even more than the room on my lap for another precious little reader. My summer break from the classroom would be filled with weekly visits to see grandbaby #2. Another match made in heaven … another little one to hold gently on my lap while sharing book after book. We would read, read, and read some more.
And just like that, my heart is filled with even more grandma joy as grandbaby #3 makes his debut. This grandma’s heart and her reading lap know no limit and yet, again, we will discover a match made in heaven … another little one to hold gently on my lap while sharing book after book. We will read, read, and read some more.
Showering my beautiful grandbabies with love and literacy is one of the most exquisite experiences I know I will encounter in this lifetime. As a reading grandma I also know there is something sort of magical that happens when you combine a passion for grandbabies and a passion for books. The rest of the world and all its demands fall to the wayside and float on by. All that matters is the little one on my lap and the time we have to read, read and read some more.
If you’re a reading grandma like me (or you know someone who is), you might be interested in the following list which comes highly recommended by my absolute favorite almost 1‑year-old and nearly 2½-year-old. These are the books we read, read, and read some more!
First 100 Words Book by Roger Priddy
Picture Me with My Grandma by Catherine McCafferty
I’m Wild About You by Sandra Magsamen
Elmo Says by Sarah Albee and Tom Leigh
Doggy Kisses 1 2 3 by Todd Parr
The I Love You Book by Todd Parr
Global Babies by The Global Fund for Children
The Dog I Love Best Finger Puppet Book by Parragon
I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak and Caroline Jayne Church
Baby Touch and Feel Animals by DK