9 Classic Books Your Grandkids May Like

Janie Emaus,

AARP Veteran Report

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Published August 03, 2023

We may have broadened our definition of “classic” over time, but one characteristic great books share is that they can transport us to a world unlike our own. They also assure us that we are not alone in the way we experience the world.

Here is a small, age-appropriate sample of books I have read and shared with my children and grandchildren. They range from classics of my youth to more recently published stories that I believe are destined to become classics over time.

Young Adult Books — ages 12 and up

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Anyone of a certain age is familiar with this classic. It follows the lives of four sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March — as they grow from little girls into young women. It shows their struggles to seek their own paths, with the U.S. Civil War as a backdrop. Although this story takes place before the telephone, much less cellphones and social media, my granddaughter could relate to the March sisters as they depended on family members to help one another. I believe it still holds up today as a role model for girls. As Alcott said, “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1935)

If I could time travel, I would climb aboard a covered wagon and drive into the 1870s, a period that has always fascinated me. The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s actual pioneer childhood and they offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier. Although my grandchildren empathized with the characters, they agree the pioneer way of life would have been way too hard for them.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie (2007)

National Book Award, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award

This semi-autobiographical novel explores Indian identity through the life of Junior, a 14-year-old budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. At times heartbreaking, at times funny, every line is written beautifully. The cartoons add a delightful dimension to the story. My grandchildren appreciated learning about a culture so different from theirs.

Middle School Books — ages 8–12

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (1943)

1944 Newbery Medal

I think this is one of the best historical novels ever written for children. While reading this book, my grandson and I lived through the events leading up to the American Revolution. Fourteen-year-old Johnny Tremain, an apprentice silversmith gets caught up in a dramatic involvement with John Hancock, Samuel Adams and Dr. Joseph Adams. Filled with danger and excitement, the story was especially liked by my adventurous grandson.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume (1970)

Time Magazine’s All-TIME 100 Novels list

I have a strong connection to this iconic coming of age story, having raised my children in an interfaith family. Blume has created a timeless sixth grader, Margaret Simon, confronting anxieties such as menstruation, bras and boys. Set in the 1970s, this book shows today’s youth how we managed to exist, and did quite well, before the internet. Blume has proven that technology may have progressed but teenagers still face the same internal questions. However, my granddaughter did question how we handled not being able to text our friends any time of day or night.

Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff (1997)

1998 Newbery Honor

This book shows what life was like on the home front during World War II. In 1944, after her best friend moves to a wartime factory town and her father goes overseas to fight, Lily forges a friendship with Albert, a Hungarian refugee. This war story led to a discussion about the men in our family who fought in WWII and Vietnam, giving my grandchildren a better understanding of their grandfathers.

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee (2022)

2023 Newbery Honor, National Book Award finalist, Asian/Pacific American Award for Youth Literature

Eleven-year-old Maizy learns about her family history while helping run her grandparents’ Chinese restaurant. She discovers her ancestors’ struggles against racism and confronts issues that still plague the Midwestern town. I am honored to know the author personally. When I asked her why she wrote this book, she said, “For great stories and adventures, often one doesn’t need to look any further than their own family tree. I wanted to shine light on this with Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, and to highlight the little known, but fascinating, facts about the Chinese in America and their significant contribution to the building of our country.”

Picture Books — ages 0-7

(appropriate ages vary by book)

T he Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles, illustrated by George Ford (1995)

This beautiful picture book tells the story of Ruby Bridges, the first Black child to attend the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. After reading this book, my grandchildren, toddlers at the time, asked many questions about race. They were astonished to learn that I had been alive during segregation, not because of my age but because it didn’t seem possible that not so long ago our country still had segregation laws.

The Kite That Bridged Two Nations: Homan Walsh and the First Niagara Suspension Bridge by Alexis O’Neill, illustrated by Terry Widener (2013)

What child doesn’t love to fly a kite? This is a well-told story of a young New Yorker and how his kite-flying skill led to the construction of the first suspension bridge across the Niagara River to Canada. In the author’s words, “Kids do remarkable things! Impressed with how an ordinary kid, Homan Walsh, did something so extraordinary and lasting with his kite, I thought young readers would love to know about him.” Little known stories like this are what our country is made of.

Share Your Experience: What are some of your favorite books that you have shared with your children and grandchildren?

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Janie Emaus is the author of two books with a third to be published in early 2023. Her essays, stories and articles have been published in numerous magazines, anthologies and online publications. She lives in Southern California with her husband, a veteran of the Vietnam War. More about her work can be found at www.janieemaus.com.

9 Classic Books to Share With Your Grandkids

A classic can transport us to an unfamiliar world while assuring us that we are not alone in the way we experience the world

Young Adult Books — ages 12 and up

Middle School Books — ages 8–12

Picture Books — ages 0-7

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