Growing Up and Growing Older Booklist: Home

Biographical story of the life of Ethel L. Payne (1911-1991) known as the “First Lady of the Black Press”. Ethel always loved writing and wanted to be a journalist. For nearly five decades she served as a White House correspondent under presidents including Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson. Richard Nixon, and Jimmy Carter. She fought to bring attention to civil rights and became the voice of those who had no voice. Upon her retirement President Lyndon Johnson presented her with the pens he used to sign the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. She was one of 4 female journalists featured on a United States postage stamp.

The true story of Joào Perira de Souza, the penguin he rescued, and how Joào became an honorary penguin. Joào was retired and living by the ocean in Brazil. On the beach he found a penguin covered in oil, near death, and took the penguin home. Day after day he cleaned and fed the penguin and called him “Dindim”. Dindim grew strong and healthy. He and Joào would splash in the surf and swim in the ocean together. Dindim followed Joào everywhere he went and the people in the town became used to seeing them together. Joào was worried that Dindim needed penguin friends so he took Dindim to an island---but Dindim swam back to Joào. One day Dindim disappeared. Joào was sad to see his friend go but hoped he would find penguin friends. Joào wondered if he would ever see his friend again—but Dindim returned. Now each year in February Dindim leaves, but returns in June to be back with his friend. Dindim is tagged, so one thing is sure--it is the same penguin who returns each year to his honorary penguin friend.

A breathtaking picture book featuring a Korean girl and her haenyeo (free diving) grandmother about intergenerational bonds, finding courage in the face of fear, and connecting with our natural world. Dayeon wants to be a haenyeo just like Grandma. The haenyeo dive off the coast of Jeju Island to pluck treasures from the sea--generations of Korean women have done so for centuries. To Dayeon, the haenyeo are as strong and graceful as mermaids. To give her strength, Dayeon eats Grandma's abalone porridge. She practices holding her breath while they do the dishes. And when Grandma suits up for her next dive, Dayeon grabs her suit, flippers, and goggles. A scary memory of the sea keeps Dayeon clinging to the shore, but with Grandma's guidance, Dayeon comes to appreciate the ocean's many gifts. Tina Cho's The Ocean Calls, with luminous illustrations by muralist Jess X. Snow, is a classic in the making.

For his birthday a young boy wants a house for his dolls but does not get one. One of the gifts received was a toolbox from Grandpa. Grandpa showed him all the tools in it and shared photos of projects he had built since he was a young boy. The grandson was not sure what to do with the toolbox, puts it away, and forgot about it until he found a need for it. He wants to build a birdhouse and he and Grandpa build a birdhouse together. Neighbors learn of the boy’s building skills, he does work for them, they offer to pay him, but he has a better idea. He collects things from them that he needs to build a house for his dolls. With Grandpa’s help the dollhouse is built and they start planning their next project. Older neighbors are integrated in the text. Intergenerational learning.

A young girl has put together a wish list for her birthday. For her birthday grandma brings her a lemon tree and the girl is not sure what to do with it. After considering some amusing options the girl keeps the tree. She names it, keeps it warm inside in winter and brings it outside in spring. The tree grows lemons. She and grandma make lemonade and sell it. Instead of buying gifts from her birthday wish list, the girl uses the money they made to buy plants. She and grandma plant a neighborhood garden to share with everyone. A special message of sharing with others.

Grandpa wakes early to greet the wind. Miyuki wants to begin a day of play but Grandpa is engaged in his morning tai chi and meditation, tells her to be patient, and that he is taking care of himself. Miyuki wants to learn about meditation. She and Grandpa spend the day together as they admire many things in the garden-- the hovering bees, the stones standing still, the river where Grandpa watches the water, and the grass slowly moving. At the end of the day when Miyuki asks when they will meditate Grandpa says they have been meditating all day and thanks Miyuki for their day together. Intergenerational learning.

In this funny and heartwarming picture book, a grandfather shows his love and appreciation for a grandmother as he persuades her to attend a local dance with him. "Fun and feisty--these memorable characters are a delight to know and revisit." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Grandfather is tending his garden when a loudspeaker announces a dance in the local park. He asks Grandmother to join him, but she has many reasons to delay their outing: she needs to put eyeliner around her eyes--which are as sad as a moonless night--and color in her hair--which is as gray as an autumn cloud. Grandfather counters with loving arguments of his own: her sad eyes look like stars and her hair is as perfect and white as a summer cloud. Playful illustrations complement this touching banter, which culminates in a trip to the dance where Grandmother tells Grandfather, "You are as pretty as the moon."

A touching story about the special bond only grandmas and granddaughters share! The perfect Mother's Day gift for children to give to Grandma to say "I love you" and show how much you appreciate her! There are so many marvelous things a girl will experience and become in her life, and Grandma understands it all--because she's been there once one too. This little book of love brings the generations together and celebrates that special bond only grandmas and granddaughters share. Featuring diverse families, beautiful illustrations, and heartfelt rhymes, this inspiring picture book makes an incredible keepsake as a gift to any grandma or grandchild. Of all the most marvelous things in this world There are few that can truly compare To the heartwarming, special, unbreakable bond That a grandma and granddaughter share.

In an intergenerational winter's story full of quiet wonder, a little boy takes his grandfather for a walk down a forest trail. The boy shows Grandpa how to jump in the snow and how to make it splash into the creek. Grandpa shows the boy rabbit tracks and deer hiding among the trees. They greet their animal neighbors by name: Raven, Rabbit, Deer, Sparrow. Back home, the little boy sets the table with cookies while Grandpa pours the milk. It has been a glorious afternoon, and soon there will be books and blankets and the big armchair by the fire. In Raven, Rabbit, Deer, Governor General's Award-nominated author Sue Farrell Holler casts a spell of simple wonder as small child earnestly sets out to take care of his grandfather for the day. Grandpa wisely gratifies this sweet self-importance while passing on important lessons: how to greet a raven...how to know a deer's tracks...how to be family. Illustrator Jennifer Faria creates illustrations so cozy they make the winter's day feel warm.

After Kiyoshi watches his grandfather, Eto, compose his delicate haiku, he wonders out loud: "Where do poems come from?" His grandfather answers by taking him on a walk through their city, where they see a cat perched on a hill of oranges; hear the fluttering of wings; imagine what's behind a tall wall; and discuss their walk, with each incident inspiring a wonderful new haiku from Eto. As Kiyoshi discovers that poems come from the way the world outside of us meets the world within each of us, he also finds the courage to write a haiku of his own. This lovely book will speak to any reader who treasures poetry, city life, grandparents, or the beauty of the everyday.

Discover the incredible life of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet and the mastermind behind Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, in this fascinating picture book biography that's perfect for fans of I Dissent. Most people know about President FDR, but do you know the woman who created his groundbreaking New Deal? As a young girl, Frances Perkins was very shy and quiet. But her grandmother encouraged Frances to always challenge herself. When somebody opens a door to you, go forward. And so she did. Frances realized she had to make her voice heard, even when speaking made her uncomfortable, and use it to fight injustice and build programs to protect people across the nation. So when newly-elected President Franklin Delano Roosevelt finally asked Frances to be the first female Secretary of Labor and help pull the nation out of the Great Depression, she knew she had to walk through that open door and forward into history. In this empowering, inspirational biography, discover how the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet led the charge to create the safety net that protects American workers and their families to this day.

It is rare to find a children’s book that addresses ageism. Book notes that all ages are important, looks at the similarities between young and old, and encourages ending ageism. “Older adults are vibrant and true. After all, you will age too! Act now to protect the future you”.

Throughout his life Nelson Mandela worked for a democratic and free society where all people lived together in harmony with equal opportunities. He was a rallying force against injustice, studied as a lawyer, and established South Africa’s first black law firm. He spent 27 years in prison for his political beliefs. In 1994, at the age of 76, he became South Africa’s first democratically elected President.

The life story of President Gerald Ford. Ford served in the Navy during WWII. His life was founded on the beliefs of truth and honor, hard work, patriotism, teamwork, and equal rights. He knew what it was to struggle and strive. He studied as a lawyer and became a congressman. He believed in truth. He became President of the United States at age 61. Integrity was an important quality to him: “If you are a person of your word…the integrity of your word…is a tremendous value. Keep it. Never lost it”. A tribute from his 4 children is included at the end of book as well as a timeline of his life. Leadership. Special message.

The true story of “the water lady”, Darlene Arviso. Darlene is a hero in the Navajo community and a grandmother who takes care of her grandchildren. Each month she fills up her tanker, drives her route, and delivers water to more than 200 thirsty families. The text shows a young Navajo boy, Cody, and his intergenerational family as they wait for the water to arrive. Many families on the reservation do not have running water and depend on the water Darlene brings. That water is the only water they have. While they are waiting for the water to arrive Cody’s grandmother tells him a story about the “Water Sprinkler”, a Navajo God, who collects water to make rain. Navajo words are included in the text.

On library day Jake feels left behind. He was a slow and careful reader, and it wasn’t easy for him to find library books. On a school library visit the librarian encouraged the children to find books to love and sent them off to explore the library. Jake finds himself noticing the bookcases and how they are put together. The librarian notices Jake’s interest and brought him a book on woodworking. Jake recognized many of the tools in the book from seeing them in grandpa’s workshop, became interested in things that are made out of wood, and learned about making things out of wood. When Jake found out that the library would be closed for the summer, and will not be available to check-out books, he has an idea. He and grandpa use wood to make a “Little Library”—a place outside the library where people can put in and take out books. All that summer he and grandpa’s Little Library stayed busy. Today, there are thousands of “Little Free Libraries” all over the country and world.