Generation Celeberation: Children's Books
Stories with intergenerational themes are certainly not new to children's
literature. We grew up with tales that ranged from the frightful distortion
of old age in Hansel and Gretel to the love of the grandfather in Heidi and
the growing affection between a girl and her adoptive parents in Anne of Green
Gables.
Children's books get relegated to children, however, and rarely do we look to
them for professional resources. Over the last decade a great number of
exceptional books written for children have had as their theme the full range
of experience shared by children and older people in their lives.
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Revising Worn-out Stereotypes
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There are a variety of reasons for professionals in the field of aging to
explore children's books with intergenerational themes. First, today's media
focus is on the problematic side of aging and the hype about intergenerational
warfare. In the midst of this, children's books are revising worn-out
stereotypes of aging.
Professionals in aging - who meet ageism daily - see more clearly than most
the need for strong intergenerational connections to support the quality of
life of our communities and our clients. The world of children's literature
is one of the many allies assisting us in efforts to change attitudes, values
and intransigent systems.
Further, we have a professional stake in being in touch with this genre of
literature. The children of the 1990s are destined to be the 21st century
adults who will shoulder enormous personal and financial responsibility for
the largest elderly population in human history. They are forming their ideas
about old age now, in part through what they read.
Third, professionals with expertise in aging will especially appreciate the
role portrayals, the accuracy with which circumstances are depicted, and
refreshing honesty with which storytellers spin tales of relationships between
young and old.
Grandparents, neighbors, aunts and uncles are portrayed as supporters,
playmates, listeners, confidants, teachers and instigators of merry pranks.
It is these persons who put children in touch with their roots, emotions and
strengths.
Children as well are often pictured as providers of love, attention and wisdom
to older people in their lives.
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Trend Toward Realism
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In addition, story lines are making accessible the rich ethnic roots and
diversity of our population. A trend toward realism in recent years has seen
children's literature tackle circumstances of poverty, divorce and sexuality.
These books not only depict situations of joy and happiness but confront
sorrow, disability, family tension around caregiving for elderly, diseases
like Alzheimer's and death. The personal pleasure and benefit of these books
became evident at the American Society on Aging as books for this special
section of AGING TODAY began to arrive. Staff members discovered that stores
meant to delight children invited us to remember our own past and reconfirm
the reasons we chose the field of aging in the first place.
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Everybody's Favorites
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Hands down, books by Patricia Polacco were everybody's favorites. (Other
titles are included elsewhere on this page.) Topping the list was Polacco's
MRS. KATZ AND TUSH, a story of how Larnel, a young boy, befriends an older
widow named Mrs. Katz.
Recognizing her loneliness, he brings her a kitten, the tailless runt of the
litter, for company. She names it Tush, and a friendship begins. From
frequent visits, Larnel discovers common themes of suffering and triumph
between his African American heritage and her Polish-Jewish experience.
The lively dialogue and exuberant artwork that mark this book are present in
all of Polacco's books. She draws on her own Ukranian heritage and life in
her racially diverse neighborhood in Oakland, Calif.
With naturalness and un-selfconsciousness of an excellent storyteller, she
spins tales whose characters are intergenerational, multiethnic and
interracial. Other Polacco books with special intergenerational themes
include BABUSHKA'S DOLL, THUNDER CAKES, CHICKEN SUNDAY and THE KEEPING QUILT,
THE BEE TREE, PICNIC AT MUDSOCK MEADOW, RENCHENKA'S EGGS.
The uses of books like these in our work as professionals in aging are limited
only by our own creativity. Social workers in care management will find them
invaluable for communicating with all the members of a client's family.
Program directors may find materials in them that catalyze stimulating
discussion, creative writing and dramatic products among participants at
senior centers, retirement communities and adult daycare sites.
Any waiting room of a nursing home will do well to keep a collection. What
better way to make visits enjoyable for young family members.
For policymakers, the books offer materials that provide examples of
contemporary issues and reflect alternative views to the often distorted image
intergenerational connections.
Gerontologists, as well as child development specialists, will find that
children's books with intergenerational themes fill the gap in human
development courses that often omit the third age of life.
As professionals in the field of aging, we can be grateful that our work is
supported by authors and illustrators of children's books - books that should
not remain for children only.
Pick almost any issue of professional concern in the field of aging and you
will find an appropriate children's book. Many are available at your local
library.
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Fighting Stereotypes
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MY GRANDMA HAS BLACK HAIR by Mary Hoffman, pictures by Joanna Burroughes (New
York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1988). This book portrays the charming
relationship between a child and her modern grandmother, who wears jeans,
drives a convertible and is a disastrous knitter and cook. But tales of her
childhood in the circus keeps her granddaughter enthralled.
THE MIDNIGHT EATERS by Amy Hest (New York: Macmillan, 1989). All of us need
older role models who can play and safely stretch the rules. Samantha wonders
how it will be when she shares her room with her grandmother, who is
recuperating from an operation. Their nightly ice cream raids answer her
question. Lots of unexpected pleasure!
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Need for Support Systems
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SOMEBODY LOVES YOU, MR. HATCH by Eileen Spinelli, pictures by Paul Yalowitz
(New York: Bradbury Press, 1991). Mr Hatch lives alone, works alone and is
isolated from people in his neighborhood. Then a mis-sent valentine bearing
the message, "Somebody loves you!" changes his whole attitude toward others.
He has many friends by the time the mistake is discovered.
GRANDPA'S TOWN by Takaaki Nomura, translated by Amanda Mayer Stinchecum
(Brooklyn, N.Y.: Kane/Miller, 1991). When grandma dies in Japan, the family
comes to bring grandpa back to the States. While they are still in Japan,
grandson accompanies grandpa through his daily activities - the market, the
visit with older friends, the communal bath. He discovers the many warm
connections and neighborhood activities his grandpa has by "aging in place."
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Dealing With Dementia
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SACHIKO MEANS HAPPINESS by Kimiko Sakai (New York: Talman Publishers, 1990).
A Japanese-American child deals with the pain of living with a grandmother who
has dementia. Working through her anger, she comes to have compassion and
find a way to have a creative connection.
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Coping With Caregiving
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THE HUNDRED PENNY BOX by Sharon Bell Mathis, illustrated by Leo and Diane
Dillon (New York: Viking Children's Books, 1975). In this classic, a Newbery
Award Winner, Michael protects his grandmother's hundred penny box when
everyone else wants to get the clutter out of the way. With candor and
realism, conflict and compassion are portrayed in this story of a family
dealing with caregiving.
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Life Cycles
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KNOTS ON A COUNTING ROPE by Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault,
illustrated by Ted Rand (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1985). "Tell me
the story again, Grandfather. Tell me who I am," the haunting rhythm of a
Native American tale begins. And so once more the grandfather tells of the
boy's beginning so that he will remember - for the old man will not be there
forever. It's a tale of love and hope and courage.
MR. JORDAN IN THE PARK by Laura Coats (New York: Macmillan, 1988). From
playing as a youth, to caring for his own children, to enjoying a concert as
an elderly man, the park is the setting for the cycles of life.
MY GREAT GRANDPA by Martin Waddell (New York: Putnam Publishing Group, 1990).
A child reaches beyond the limits of blindness and frailty to expand the
world of her grandfather. In return, the gift of knowledge and special
insights is received: "He's slow, his eyes are weak, his legs don't go. He
knows things no one else knows."
In addition, here are two nice examples of the more traditional roots and
heritage themes: COAL MINE PEACHES by Michelle Dionetti (New York: Orchard
Publishing, 1991), and YONDER by Tony Johnston (New York: Dutton, 1988).
Text adapted from article: Not for Children Only by Beclee Newcomer Wilson in
AGING TODAY, November/December, 1992, p. 7.
Permission received from: American Society on Aging, San Francisco, CA, 1993.
CHILDREN'S BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR GENERATION CELEBRATION
1. Brandenberg, Aliki. THE TWO OF THEM. New York, NY:
William Morrow & Company, 1979.
2. Bunting, Eve. THE WEDNESDAY SURPRIZE. New York, NY:
William Morrow & Company, 1989 (paperback).
3. Coats, Laura Jane. MR. JORDAN IN THE PARK. New York, NY:
Macmillan, 1989. ISBN: 0-02-719053-6.
4. dePaula, Tomie. NANA UPSTAIRS, NANA DOWNSTAIRS. New York, NY:
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1973.
5. dePaula, Tomie. NOW ONE FOOT, NOW THE OTHER. New York, NY:
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1980.
6. Dionetti, Michelle. COAL MINE PEACHES. New York, NY: Orchard
Books, 1991. ISBN: 0-531-08548-1.
7. Farber, Norma. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE OLD? New York, NY: E. P.
Dutton, 1979. Now in paperback.
8. Flournoy, Valerie. THE PATCHWORK QUILT. New York, NY: Penguin
Books, 1985.
9. Fox, Mem, WILFRED GORDON MCDONALD PARTRIDGE, Brooklyn, NY:
Kane/Miller Productions, 1989.
10. GRANDPARENTS. Cyprus, CA (90630): Creative Teaching Series, Inc.,
1990 (paperback).
11. Greenfield, E. WILLIAM AND THE GOOD OLD DAYS. HarperCollins
Publishers, 1993.
12. Hesse, Karen. POPPY'S CHAIR. New York, Macmillan, 1993.
13. Hest, Amy. THE MIDNIGHT EATERS. New York, NY: Four Winds Press,
1989. ISBN: 0-02-743630-6.
14. Hoffman, Mary and Burroughes, Joanna. MY GRANDMA HAS BLACK HAIR.
New York, NY: Dial Books (2 Park Avenue), 1988. ISBN: 0-8037-
0510-7.
15. Johnston, Tony. YONDER. New York, NY: Dial Books, 1988.
ISBN: 0-14-054731-2.
16. Kesselman, Wendy. Emma. New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1980.
17. Nomura, Takaaki. GRANDPA'S TOWN. Brooklyn, NY: Kane/Miller
Publishers, 1991. ISBN: 0-9-16291-36-7.
18. Martin, Bill and Archambault, John. KNOTS ON A COUNTING ROPE.
New York, NY: Henry Holt. ISBN: 0-8050-0571-4.
19. Mathis, Sharon Bell. THE HUNDRED PENNY BOX. New York, NY:
Puffin Books, 1938.
20. Oberman, Sheldon. THE ALWAYS PRAYER SHAWL. Honesdale, PA: Boyds
Mill Press, 1994.
21. Polacco, Patricia. THE BEE TREE. New York, NY: Philomel, 1993.
22. Polacco, Patricia. THE KEEPING QUILT. New York, NY: Simon and
Schuster, 1988. ISBN: 0-671-64963-9.
23. Polacco, Patricia. BABUSHKA'S DOLL. New York, NY: Simon and
Schuster. ISBN: 0-671-68343-8.
24. Polacco, Patricia. MRS. KATZ AND TUSH. New York, NY: Bantam
Doubleday Dell, 1992. ISBN: 0-553-08122-5.
25. Polacco, Patricia. THUNDER CAKE. New York, NY: Philomel Books,
1990. ISBN: 0-399-22231-6.
26. Sakai, Kimiko. SASHIKO MEANS HAPPINESS. San Francisco:
Children's Book Press, 1990. 0-02-786015-9.
27. Say, Allen. GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin,
1993.
28. Spinelli, Eileen. SOMEBODY LOVES YOU, MR. HATCH. New York, NY:
Bradbury, Press, 1991. ISBN: 0-02-786015-9.
Bibliography compiled by Jan Scholl, Mary Miller and Annette Goodling
Penn State Cooperative Extension and with the assistance of Schlow
Public Library staff
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Updated 8/12/05