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Picture Books By Topic: community
Albert the Fix-It Man
Illustrated by: Julie Paschkis
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Description: Elder valued in community, neighborliness, active older man
Ages: 3-6
Topics: community, intergenerational, making a difference, neighbors, older role model, retirement, volunteerism, work
A Map into the World
Illustrated by: Seo Kim
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Description: Paj Ntaub, a young Hmong American girl, and her family reach out to an older grieving neighbor. Growth & aging & death are portrayed as normal and natural. Four generations are clearly delineated.
Ages: 3-6
Topics: community, extended family, family heritage, Grief, Hmong-American, intergenerational, late-life happiness, making a difference, neighbors
Be the Change: A Grandfather Gandhi Story
Illustrated by: Evan Turk
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Description: t Grandfather Gandhi’s service village, each day is filled, from sunrise to sunset, with work that is done for the good of all. The villagers vow to live simply and non-violently. Arun Gandhi tries very hard to follow these vows, but he struggles with one of the most important rules: not to waste. (from website Grandfather Gandhi.)
Ages: 3-6, 6-9
Topics: Activism, community, family heritage, fears, grandfather/grandson, legacy, making a difference, multicultural, neighbors, older role model
The Big Bath House
Illustrated by: Gracey Zhang
Description: In this celebration of Japanese culture and family and naked bodies of all shapes and sizes, join a little girl--along with her aunties and grandmother--at a traditional bath house. Once there, the rituals leading up to the baths begin: hair washing, back scrubbing, and, finally, the wood barrel drumroll. Until, at last, it's time, and they ease their bodies--their creased bodies, newly sprouting bodies, saggy, jiggly bodies--into the bath. Ahhhhhh! With a lyrical text and gorgeous illustrations, this picture book is based on Kyo Maclear's loving memories of childhood visits to Japan, and is an ode to the ties that bind generations of women together. (Publisher)
Ages: 3-6
Topics: appearances, community, extended family, grandmother/granddaughter, intergenerational, multicultural, traditions
The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos
Illustrated by: LeUyen Pham
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Description: As a boy famed mathematician Paul Erdos “spent his days counting and thinking about numbers. He couldn’t tie his own shoes or butter his own toast” and that changed little as he grew up. However, this math genius generously shared his brain, helping other mathematicians with math problems and research.
Ages: 6-9
Topics: community, math, men, picture book bios
Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trial
Illustrated by: Jennifer Thermes
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Description: At age 67, Emma Gatewood decided to go for a nice long walk . . . and ended up completing the Appalachian Trail. With just the clothes on her back and a pair of thin canvas sneakers on her feet, Grandma Gatewood hiked up ridges and down ravines, braved angry storms and witnessed breathtaking sunrises relying on the kindness of strangers. A story of true grit and girl power at any age. (Adapted from author’s website)
Ages: 3-6, 6-9
Topics: adventures, community, fears, grandmother, late-life happiness, nature, perseverance, physical challenges, picture book bios
Grandmother School
Illustrated by: Ellen Rooney
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Description: Every morning, a young girl walks her grandmother to the Aajibaichi Shala, the school that was built for the grandmothers in her village to have a place to learn to read and write. The narrator beams with pride as she drops her grandmother off with the other aajis to practice the alphabet and learn simple arithmetic. A moving story about family, women and the power of education—when Aaji learns to spell her name you’ll want to dance along with her. (Description from publisher Orca Books, 2020.)
Topics: aging, community, discrimination, grandmother, grandmother/granddaughter, grandparents, multicultural, respect for elders, schools, women
Grandpa’s Soup
Illustrated by: Satomi Ichikawa
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Description: After the death of his wife, an old man gradually realizes that making the soup she used to cook and sharing it with friends eases his loneliness. His resilience and generosity are inspiring.
Ages: 3-6, 6-9
Topics: community, grandparents, intergenerational, making a difference, neighbors, resilience, traditions, volunteerism
Hand over Hand
Illustrated by: Renne Benoit
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Description: But Nina is determined that her grandfather, her lolo, will take her fishing with him on his old banca boat despite the fact its not girls’ work. If her lolo will show her how to jig the lines, to set the hook, and to pull in a fish, hand over hand, she can prove to everyone in their Filipino fishing village that she deserves her turn in the boat, girl or no!
Ages: 3-6, 6-9
Topics: community, family heritage, grandfather/granddaughter, grandparents, multicultural, nature, perseverance, traditions, work
Hard Work, But It’s Worth It: The Life of Jimmy Carter
Illustrated by: Kyung Eun Han
Description: "The first picture book about the inspiring life of humanitarian Jimmy Carter, the thirty-ninth president of the United States and a Nobel Prize winner. From the statehouse to the White House and beyond, Jimmy has worked to make change for all people, devoting decades to public service and becoming one of the most respected humanitarians of our time." (From publisher)
Ages: 3-6, 6-9
Topics: Activism, community, history, legacy, making a difference, men, older role model, perseverance, picture book bios, volunteerism, work
