Picture Books About Grandparents and Grandfathers: 12 to Read Together

Quick answer: Good picture books about grandparents include Grandpa Green, The Hello, Goodbye Window, Grandfather’s Journey, Drawn Together, How to Babysit a Grandpa and Last Stop on Market Street. For a full series about a grandfather, the Teddy books by Ryan Cohen follow Grandpa Teddy as he teaches his two grandsons about saving, work and friendship: ten hardcovers in the Complete Collection ($109.99, free US shipping).

Books about grandparents do two jobs at once: they give children a way to talk about someone they love, and they give grandparents the perfect thing to read aloud. They are popular for Grandparents Day (the first Sunday after Labor Day in the US), birthdays and holidays.

We run Caring Parents’ Choice, a small family store. We sell only the Teddy books; the other titles are recommendations you can find at a library or bookstore.

Teddy Complete Collection, ten books about Grandpa Teddy

A whole series about a grandpa

Teddy Complete Collection, 10 books

10 illustrated hardcovers · $109.99 · free US shipping

See the Complete Collection →

Start with five

Teddy Volume 1, five-book set

5 illustrated hardcovers · $69.99 · free US shipping

See Volume 1 →

12 picture books about grandparents

Book	Author	About
Teddy and the Piggy Banks	Ryan Cohen	A grandpa teaches his grandsons to save
Teddy Goes to Work	Ryan Cohen	Grandpa shows what work is about
Teddy and His Best Friend Jerry	Ryan Cohen	Friendship and loyalty
Grandpa Green	Lane Smith	A great-grandfather’s life told through his garden
The Hello, Goodbye Window	Norton Juster	A girl’s visits to Nanna and Poppy’s house
Grandfather’s Journey	Allen Say	A grandfather’s life between Japan and America
Drawn Together	Minh Lê	A boy and his grandfather connect through drawing
How to Babysit a Grandpa	Jean Reagan	A funny “guide” to looking after Grandpa
Song and Dance Man	Karen Ackerman	Grandpa performs his old vaudeville act
Last Stop on Market Street	Matt de la Peña	A bus ride with Nana and seeing beauty everywhere
Nana in the City	Lauren Castillo	A visit to Nana makes the city less scary
Abuela	Arthur Dorros	An imaginary flight over the city with Grandma

Why the Teddy books are special for grandparents

Grandpa is the teacher throughout the series. Grandpa Teddy is the one who explains, shows and listens.
Real lessons to pass on: saving, work, wants versus needs, friendship, caring for a pet, finishing chores.
Inspired by a real father. Ryan Cohen, founder of Chewy, wrote the series around the lessons of his father, Ted.
A reading ritual: one book per visit or per video call. See how to read to your grandchild over FaceTime.

Which set to give

Set	Best for	Price
Complete Collection	The full series; siblings; a big grandparent gift	$109.99
Volume 1	Saving, work, helpers, the wider world	$69.99
Volume 2	Friendship, a puppy, earning, snow days	$69.99

Every set ships free within the US, and we can send it straight to your grandchild with no prices on the packing slip.

We are not affiliated with the authors or publishers of the other books listed.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good picture book about a grandfather?

Grandpa Green, Grandfather’s Journey and Drawn Together are loved single titles. For a series, the Teddy books feature Grandpa Teddy throughout.

What books can grandparents read to grandchildren?

Short picture books with a grandparent character work best, because children see their own relationship in the story.

What is a good book gift for Grandparents Day?

A book about grandparents with a handwritten note inside, or a set to read together on visits and calls.

Our pick

For one book, try Grandpa Green. For a series you’ll read together for months, choose the Teddy Complete Collection.

See the Complete Collection · Volume 1 · Volume 2

More: 30 things to do with grandkids and book gifts for grandchildren.

Translation missing: en.cpc.journal.more

Homeschool Money Curriculum for Ages 4–8: A Simple 10-Week Plan →Ryan Cohen’s Children’s Books: The Story Behind Teddy →

The Teddy sets

Give the whole set

Each volume is a boxed set of five illustrated hardcovers by Ryan Cohen, 32 pages each, for reading aloud with children about 3 to 8. One set covers a whole season of bedtime stories, and every set ships free in the US.