Families come in all shapes and sizes. This book list celebrates all things family from the little moments to the big celebrations and everything in between. You’ll find just the title you need in this list of children’s books about family.
Books About Family
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Family Reunions and Celebrations
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One of the best things about heading to a family reunion is the anticipation. Then, once you get there it is the visiting and the stories. Oh, so many stories! [easyazon_link identifier=”1561459380″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Going Down Home With Daddy[/easyazon_link] by Kelly Starling Lyons does a beautiful job of illustrating the love of family and reuniting with them.
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The first book that comes to mind when I think family is [easyazon_link identifier=”0689717385″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]The Relatives Came [/easyazon_link]by Cynthia Rylant. Most of us look forward to family coming to visit and Rylant does a beautiful job of expressing those feelings of anticipation and excitement followed by disappointment when they have to leave.
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We read [easyazon_link identifier=”0698114124″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Too Many Tamales[/easyazon_link] by Gary Soto every Christmas Eve before we make our own tamales. In this book, a family gathers together from their traditional tamale making. But, something is lost and the children think it could be in the big stack of tamales. Can they find it before the adults discover something is missing?
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[easyazon_link identifier=”0763640913″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]So Much![/easyazon_link] by Trish Cooke has been one of my favorite read-alouds for years. You can feel the love of family ooze through your pores as you read, “want to hug and kiss and squeeze and eat the baby right up.” Ding dong! Someone is at the door. Who could it be? Perhaps another family member arriving for a special someone’s birthday?
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[easyazon_link identifier=”0763697842″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Around the Table That Grandad Built[/easyazon_link] by Melanie Heuiser Hill shares how everyone has a part in the meal including the table they are eating at. It’s a cumulative story building upon the event from before making it perfect for sequencing and retelling with the kids. Plus, it’s multi-generational and multi-ethinic which adds to the authenticity. It’s a great addition to your study on families at the beginning of the school year and to add to your whole group read-aloud line-up.
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[easyazon_link identifier=”1580897126″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]In Grandma’s Tiny House[/easyazon_link] by JaNay Brown-Wood we discover that even though Grandma’s house is tiny, it can hold a whole lot of love. Children will count all the love in this book.
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It’s a fun tradition to make applesauce as a family. Learn all about it in [easyazon_link identifier=”0807503924″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Applesauce Day[/easyazon_link] by Lisa Amstutz. A recipe for applesauce is included.
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Most of can remember taking trips to our grandparents’ house. Something made that house super special. Some children take a trip to such a house in [easyazon_link identifier=”0688158420″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Bigmama’s[/easyazon_link] by Donald Crews. The summer fun is about to begin.
Dinner on Domingos by Alexandra Katona is about that special day of the week when an extended family comes together to share a meal. A recipe for Locro is even included.
Dad and Daddy’s Big Big Family by Seamus Kirst takes us to a family reunion where a young girl discovers just how big and connected her family is. Her dads help her realize that their family is like one big connected web.
Love of Families- It’s the Small Things That Are Really the Big Things
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It’s the simple things like sitting in a rocking chair with loved ones generation after generation in [easyazon_link identifier=”1338332651″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Love and the Rocking Chair[/easyazon_link] by Leo and Diane Dillon.
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There is nothing sweeter than watching a Daddy help with his daughter’s hair. [easyazon_link identifier=”0525553363″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Hair Love[/easyazon_link] by Matthew A. Cherry is a beautiful story of a Daddy doing just that and the challenges that go along with hairstyling.
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A Plan for Pops by Heather Smith is a story of a family and how family sticks together no matter what. Granddad and Lou build something for Pops that help him with a new challenge. And, they use a clever Rube Goldberg contraption to unveil it.
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A weekly visit to just share lunch and a craft can really be the most special day of the week. That’s just what one little girl and her Papa share each Thursday in [easyazon_link identifier=”1536203572″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Our Favorite Day[/easyazon_link] by Joowon Oh.
Hair Oil Magic by Anu Chouhan celebrates a simple ritual that some South Asian families share to bond over important hair care. A beautiful story about the love of being with family.
All Kinds of Families
Mama’s Home by Shay Youngblood is the story of a village raising a child. The child in this family has several Big Mamas that help care for her.
My Big Fantastic Family by Adam & Charlotte Buillain is a celebration story about nonnuclear and blended families. The takeaway is that a child will always be loved even if parents separate or divorce.
It’s not the size or a shape of a family that makes it a family. It’s love that makes a family. Love is a Family by Roma Downey is a story of a young girl discovering that what truly makes a family is love and that can come in all shapes and sizes.
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[easyazon_link identifier=”0374300038″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]One Family[/easyazon_link] by George Shannon showcases that families come in all shapes and sizes.
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[easyazon_link identifier=”0316070408″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]The Family Book[/easyazon_link] by Todd Parr is filled with bright illustrations that will captivate your youngest listeners. Parr always does an excellent job of showcasing diversity.
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Ask a child to describe their family and you’ll get all sorts of answers because no two families look exactly alike. But, families all have one thing in common. That is what you’ll explore in [easyazon_link identifier=”1554987946″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]A Family is a Family is a Family[/easyazon_link] by Sara O’Leary.
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[easyazon_link identifier=”0553499386″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Families, Families, Families![/easyazon_link] by Suzanne Lang is a playful story about all the different family combos. Pictures hanging on the wall of different animal families showcases all the unique combinations.
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If you are doing a family tree project, you’ll want [easyazon_link identifier=”0517885972″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Me and My Family Tree[/easyazon_link] by Joan Sweeney.
Papa, Daddy, and Riley by Seamus Kirst is the story of a little girl who encounters a classmate that questions why she has a papa and a daddy. The young girl’s loving family reassures her that families come in all shapes and sizes and that love is really wants makes a family.
Let Me Fix You a Plate: A Tale of Two Kitchens by Elizabeth Lilly is the story of visiting grandparents in two parts of the country. Each family has their own traditions and customs, but they both share the same love of family.
A Family Like Ours by Franky Murphy and Alice Lee shows all shapes and sizes of families and underlies the important factors that each family has.
Children’s Books About Grandparents
Grandmas and grandpas are very special people. In fact, we dedicated an entire book list just to them. Click here to see our favorite children’s books about grandparents.
Books About Parents
Books About Fathers
When my own children were born, we started a special book giving tradition on Father’s Day. Each year the kids give their dad a book celebrating fatherhood. One day, I hope to pass the books on to my boys when they become fathers.—>Father’s Day Books
Books About Mothers
Look for a book list dedicated to moms coming soon right here. In the meantime, check out my Book Shop list.—> Books About Moms for Kids
Books About New or Tough Situations Families Face
Changes in family structure, separation, and more can cause lots of feelings and emotions too. These lists will be helpful for dealing with those situations.
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[easyazon_link identifier=”0399162909″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]Home in the Woods[/easyazon_link] by Eliza Wheeler is the story of a family that loses their father and their home. Though they don’t have many material possessions, they do have the love and bond of a family. Travel with the family through the seasons of a year to see how time can heal and strengthen family bonds.
Books to Help With Death and Grief
Books to Help With the Death of a Sibling
Books About Divorce (from Happily Ever Elephants)
Books About Adoption (from The Chaos and the Clutter)
Printable List of Books About Families
Grab a printable list of the books shared above.
All About Families
Continue the learning about families with our My Family, Friends, and Me Preschool Literacy Unit. It’s full of literacy learning resources to celebrate families.