Peeny Butter Fudge

Peeny Butter Fudge
by Toni Morrison & Slade Morrison
illustrated by Joe Cepeda

While mom heads out, Nana is left with the children and a schedule and instructions to follow. However, this fun-loving grandmother doesn't quite adhere to the instructions, but her and the kids sure have a great time. Just before the mother returns, Nana and the kids make a batch of peeny butter fudge, a secret family recipe. Mother returns and sees the huge mess that Nana and the kids made. However, before she can begin to reprimand, she catches a whiff of the delicious peeny butter fudge and remembers making it herself as a child. Want to make peeny butter fudge? There is a recipe in the back of the book!

My kids LOVED this book. They thought Nana was so much fun! We even followed the recipe and made our own batch of peeny butter fudge.

The Baby on the Way

The Baby on the Way 
by Karen English
illustrated by Sean Qualls

Ever wonder about your birth story? Well, this little boy casually asked his grandmother if she was ever a baby. She explained that yes, she was once "the baby on the way." Curious about what that meant, the little boy inquired and the grandmother began explaining the story of her birth. After the story, the little boy wonders if anyone will ever ask him if he was ever a baby. She assures him that he will be asked and continues by telling him of his birth story so that he will be able to one day tell of story of him being "the baby on the way." This was a cute story and my kids did enjoy it.

However, they enjoyed what happened afterward even more! They wanted to know their birth stories. Sad to say, I didn't remember all the details and I was fearful that I would get the birth stories mixed up. So, I got out my old journals and read each of my kid's birth stories to them. They absolutely LOVED hearing about how they were "the baby [babies] on the way!!"

My Pop Pop and Me

My Pop Pop and Me 
by Irene Smalls
illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson

This is a sweet story about a boy and his grandfather. The boy and his grandfather, who happens to be a chef, spend time together baking a lemon cake. With descriptive rhymes, you follow along as the two sniff, peel, pish, mash, plop, pound, clack, dip, slurp, scrape, and swipe in the kitchen. Finally, they have prepared a delicious Lemon Bar Cake! As an added bonus, the recipe appears in the back of the book!!!

Grandpa's Face

Grandpa's Face 

by Eloise Greenfield
illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Grandpa's face told everything about him. Tamika loved her grandfather's face. Even when he was upset or disappointed with her, she could still his love for her in his face. As an actor in the theater, Tamika's grandpa was a man of many faces. However, when Tamika sees her grandpa making a different face, a mean face, a face that did not show love. She became scared that someday her grandpa would look at her with that face. However, her reassures her that it was only a pretend face (for the theater) and that he would always love her.

Red Dancing Shoes

Red Dancing Shoes

by Denise Lewis Patrick
illustrated by James E. Ransome

My daughter really enjoyed this book. It is about a girl who receives "the finest, reddest, shiniest shoes that anyone had ever seen." After thanking her grandmama for the wonderful gift, she dances off to show everyone in the neighborhood her new dancing shoes. However, while on her way to her favorite aunts house, she trips over a rock and her once shiny shoes become blotchy and muddy. After being consoled by her aunt, she is amazed as her aunt is able to clean and polish her shoes and make them look good as new! With her shiny, red shoes, she dances back home and Grandmama comments on how proud she is that her grand-daughter managed to go all the way to the store and her shoes still looked beautiful!

Full, Full, Full of Love

Full, Full, Full of Love

by Trish Cooke

illustrated by Paul Howard

Each Sunday Jay Jay goes to his Grannie's house for dinner. While waiting for dinner to be served, Jay Jay notices that Grannie's cupboard is always full, full of colorful dishes. Her fish tank is always full, full of all kinds of fish and her candy tin is full, full to the brim. Once all of their family and friends arrive, dinner is served and there is plenty for everyone! Everyone was full, full of Grannie's dinner! When it was time to go, Jay Jay and Grannie hugged and kissed each other and Jay Jay is reminded that Sunday dinner at Grannie's house is always full of love!

Fireflies for Nathan

Fireflies for Nathan

by Shulamith Levey Oppenheim
illustrated by John Ward

This book is about a six year old boy who go visits his grandparents. Inquiring from his grandparents about what his father enjoyed doing when he was six, Nathan is interested to find out that his father's favorite thing was to catch fireflies. So, when night came, Nathan along with his Nana and Poppy set out to catch fireflies just like his father did as a young boy. After reading this book, my kids became very intrigued with fireflies. I only wish that we lived in a place where they could share my own childhood joys of catching fireflies!

A Wild Cowboy

A Wild Cowboy

by Dana Kessimakis Smith
illustrated by Laura Freeman

This is a cute little book about a little boy who likens his day headed off to grandma's house to that of a cowboy. He mounts his horse (his mother's back) and meets up out West (grandma's house). The little boy has quite an imagination, which made this a fun read!