6 Favorite Children's Books to Read With Grandchildren

This book by Cajun artist George George Rodrigue has rapidly become one of my favorite children's books. I like the silk screen images of the iconic Blue Dog. I love the message that "Artists don't have to paint things the way they really are," and the implied message that it's okay to be different. All of my grandchildren enjoy the book, although on different levels. The younger grandchildren enjoy the pictures and the idea that a dog can be different colors. The older grandchildren enjoy the puns: "What color do I paint Blue Dog when I go fishing? Salmon"--and the sly humor: "I never paint Blue Dog purple (except for when I do)."

Bob Dylan's iconic lyrics plus imaginative illustrations by Jon J. Muth add up to one winner of a children's book. Given the combination of a Pulitzer Prize-winning songwriter and a Caldecott Honor artist, one shouldn't be surprised. Still, the song lyrics have no narrative thread, so it falls to Muth to create the sense of a narrative. He succeeds brilliantly. The book comes with a CD of Dylan's 1963 recording.

Fancy Nancy's penchant for dress-up may appeal to the little girls who are her main audience, but it's a different quality that wins the hearts of grandparents. Fancy Nancy also loves fancy words. This trait displayed by Nancy since her inception has been parlayed into this whimsical little vocabulary book featuring Nancy's favorite words, from Acessories to Zany. Fancy Nancy isn't for everyone. It's unlikely to charm your grandsons or your tomboy granddaughters. But for girly girls, it's a winner.

The storyline of this picture book by best-selling author Kevin Henkes is deceptively simple. Old Bear goes to sleep in the winter and dreams about being a cub again, remembering spring, summer, autumn and winter. Children will enjoy the whimsical details of Old Bear's dreams: it is raining blueberries, or the sun is a daisy. Grandparents will relate to Old Bear's memories of his youth, but will appreciate that he can still delight in a spring day. This book is also a good vehicle for helping children learn about the seasons. It's a quick read with delightful artwork and a theme that resonates with young and old.

Beginning readers sometimes find reading hard work. This book by Mary Ann Hoberman addresses that concern with a system of shared reading. Some lines are designated for one reader, some for the other reader, and some for the two readers to read together. Color-coding and placement on the page indicate who should be reading. It turns reading into a sort of game. Hoberman's use of rhythm and repetition keep the book rocking right along. The grandchildren will have to pause once in a while, however, to appreciate the whimsical and humorous illustrations.

Grandparents will enjoy introducing the younger generation to Corduroy, especially if they read the book themselves as children. Corduroy is the story of a teddy bear who lives in a department store but is never bought. One day a little girl wants to buy him, but her mother points out that he is missing one of the buttons on his overalls. That night he decides to explore the department store in search of a button. He doesn't find a button, but the next day he does find love and a home. This simple story has several admirable qualities, the most important being the theme that even the flawed are worthy of love.