When Gary’s granddaughters – ages 2 and 4 – visit from Chicago, I stock their bedroom with a book or three for bedtime reading. Who would think this would be difficult?
But my grown children’s favorites and my favorites feel a bit dated, even sexist or insensitive. I need books with diversity, powerful women, and interesting plots that are short and simple. The granddaughters are bright little people and I want to contribute to their brain power, even influence their values. And I want their millennial parents to appreciate my choices.
Do I overthink my book selections? You bet.
I wander among the racks questioning myself. Are mom and sister too gender-role-traditional in Berenstain Bears? Does Curious George advocate animal captivity? Maybe we need a book about Kwaanza. Perhaps The Lorax will imprint environmental values.
Choosing Well
With this on my mind, I talked to two Northeast Ohio librarians about books they’d recommend adding to a grandparent’s bookshelf. Both suggested old and new favorites. Classics for the youngest set still include Dr. Seuss and Sandra Boynton, among others.
“(With) so many more books being published in recent years, choosing can be overwhelming,” says Alicia Evans, children’s librarian at the Geauga County Public Library’s Chardon branch. It’s not enough anymore to just entertain children and spark interest in reading; books are chosen to influence values and build life skills.
“One of the big pushes in the last five to eight years is diversity in books, especially for picture books. There’s more discussion of that in libraries and in the publishing world,” says Evans. “Reading books with diverse characters helps build empathy for people who may look different from the child. And that helps with social development.”
Author Karen Katz, for example, offers the simplest board books using diverse baby faces. While the social development is subtle, the lessons about animals, emotions and counting are more overt.
It seems all reading moments can be lesson time. “Picture books that are biographies are another trend,” says Evans. She suggests “Firebird,” written by and about African-American ballerina Misty Copeland, as a way to hit many touchpoints.
A 2018 award-winning book that hits multiple themes is “Drawn Together” by Minh Le. In it, a young Asian boy and his grandfather are separated by language and cultural barriers. When they recognize a common love of drawing, they begin to communicate, then collaborate, through pictures. The values taught are powerful, Evans says, adding, “Even though we can be so different, we can find some common ground.”
As children get older, more concepts come into play to spark thinking and conversation. One example Evans offered is Kobi Yamada’s series, “What You Do Matters.” Titles include “What Do You Do With a Chance?” “What Do You Do With a Problem?” and “What Do You Do With an Idea?”
Books that encourage children, especially girls, to be interested in STEM topics (science, technology, engineering and math) are another trend in the publishing world.
For those who are interested, books also are available that subtly address LGBTQ and gender identity. These can be light and prepare kids for encountering other children with two moms or two dads.
Both Evans and Mary Balog, children’s librarian from the Geauga County Public Library’s Bainbridge branch, recommend books by award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems. Exceedingly popular with borrowers, his books often involve interaction or play.
“All of our libraries have a new book section that grandparents can browse,” says Balog. “And, we’re happy to help them find something that might fit.
For more suggestions, Balog suggests checking out winners of the Randolph Caldecott Medal (picture books) and John Newbery Medal (children’s literature). “These are chosen by librarians and teachers. The lists are a great place to look for quality books,” she says.
Next time, I’ll hit the library or bookstore early and ask for help.
Recent John Newbery Medal winners
2018: “Hello, Universe” by Erin Entrada Kelly
2017: “The Girl Who Drank the Moon” by Kelly Barnhill
2016: “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña
2015: “The Crossover” by Kwame Alexander
2014: “Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures” by Kate DiCamillo
2013: “The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate
2012: “Dead End in Norvelt” by Jack Gantos
2011: “Moon over Manifest” by Clare Vanderpool
2010: “When You Reach Me” by Rebecca Stead
2009: “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman
2008: “Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village” by Laura Amy Schlitz
Recent Randolph Caldecott Medal winners
2018: “Wolf in the Snow” by Matthew Cordell
2017: “Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat” by Javaka Steptoe
2016: “Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear” by Lindsay Mattik
2015: “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend” by Dan Santat
2014: “Locomotive” by Brian Floca
2013: “This is Not My Hat” by Jon Klassen
2012: “A Ball for Daisy” by Chris Raschka
2011: “A Sick Day for Amos McGee” by Philip C. Stead
2010: “The Lion & the Mouse” by Jerry Pinkney
2009: “The House in the Night” by Susan Marie Swanson
2008: “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick
Paris Wolfe’s favorite children’s books were written by Newbery Medal-winner Jean Craighead George in the second half of the 20th Century. She’ll wait a few years to introduce them to Gary’s youngest grandchildren.
