Recommended Reading
Reading Resources
Every Child Ready to Read
Every Child Ready to Read is an early-literacy program that offers workshops to parents and caregivers to help them provide their children with the building blocks they'll need in order to read and write. This program is offered by the Dallas Public Library in association with the Dallas Arts Learning Initiative.
Recommended Books
Click on any book to view the WorldCat entry and find copies near you.
A Grandparent's Gift of Love: True Stories of Comfort, Hope and Wisdom by Edward Fays
Edward Fays wrote this book to honor grandparents and the special gift of love combined with the life lessons they pass on to their grandchildren. This would also be a great book for prospective grandparents to read so they can better understand how to make a powerful and positive difference in the lives of their future grandchildren.
Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul: Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Grandparents by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Meladee McCarty, and Hanoch McCarty
Grandparents need sources of encouragement, humor, love and wisdom when they assume the role of parenting their grandchildren. This book is filled with stories that will touch the heart of grandparents, because many of them were written by or about grandchildren who were raised by their grandparents. One of the major goals of the book is to let grandparents realize how much grandchildren really appreciate the love they demonstrated to them when they reassumed the role of parents in their lives.
Empowering Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A Training Manual for Group Leaders by Carole B. Cox
This manual contains basic topic materials for workshop facilitators to use to present 14 different workshops related to grandparents raising grandchildren issues. Among the topics covered include communication skills, sex, alcohol and drugs, and establishing rules and guidelines in the home.
Grandparents as Parents: A Survival Guide for Raising a Second Family by Sylvie de Toledo and Deborah Edler Brown
Ms. De Toledo, who is a social worker and founder of Grandparents as Parents (GAP) support groups, and Deborah Brown teamed up to write an essential guide for grandparents raising their grandchildren. Among the topics covered include finding help for a troubled grandchild, how raising a grandchild affects the lives of their grandparents and how to relate to the child’s natural parents. Lots of relevant case histories are provided to educate.
Grandparents raising grandchildren: A guide to finding help and hope by Marianne Takas
If you are a grandparent and you feel overwhelmed raising your grandchildren, then this book written by Marianne Takas is for you. It is filled with both practical resources to help you carry on and find hope in your journey.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Theoretical, Empirical, and Clinical Perspectives by Bert Hayslip and Robin S. Goldberg-Glen
This book was produced by researchers at the University of North Texas, Denton that presents research, theories and discussions about the developing trend of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. The book is for all the professionals who serve both grandparents and the grandchildren they are raising.
Grandparents' Rights: What Every Grandparent Needs to Know by Patricia Perkins Slorah
When the time comes when you as a grandparent realize your grandchildren need a better home environment immediately, you must understand what your legal rights are. Dr. Slorah provides a very helpful resource to assist with each type of situation when legal issues are involved regarding your rights as a grandparent.
Grandparents, Grandchildren: The Vital Connection by Arthur Kornhaber
The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren has always been an important one to both. Arthur Kornhaber explores the vital relationship between both and how it can positively help each person become better people.
Great Ideas for Grandkids! 150 Ways to Entertain, Educate, and Enjoy Your Grandchildren - Without Setting Foot in a Toy Store! by Peggy Epstein
Do you as a grandparent need fun things to do with your grandchildren that are not expensive and result in both fun and joy for both myself and for them? If so, this book written by Peggy Epstein is just for you. Among the 150 examples of age appropriate creative activities are playing games using things common to most households, making greeting cards for members of your family or preparing food using recipes in your kitchen.
Raising Our Children's Children by Deborah Doucette-Dudman
This book focuses on the concept known as Kinship care through case scenarios, in which children live with either grandparents or other family, rather than having them either adopted out or receive foster care from total strangers. LaCure recently adopted a grandchild, and she discusses not only her experiences with the child, but presents information about stress, legal hurdles, handling conflict, and managing issues with the natural parents of the children.
Robert Lives With His Grandparents by Martha Whitmore Hickman and Tim Hinton
How do children feel, and what do they experience when their natural parent(s) are no longer able to parent them and their grandparents assume that role? Hickman and Hinton do a great job presenting how a young man named Robert transitioned from one home to another, and adjusted in every other aspect of his life with the help of his grandparents.
Second Time Around: Help for Grandparents Who Raise Their Children's Kids by Joan Callander
This is a great book is a how-to book for grandparents on raising children, especially their grandchildren. Included are letters from one a grandson Joan helped raise that present his perspective from being originally raised by his parents to being raised by his grandparents.
The Essential Grandparent: A Guide to Making a Difference by Lillian Carson
It is important for those who either are or are about to become grandparents to realize what a special experience it is to impact the next generation in your family. This book, written by Dr. Lillian Carson, will help and guide you in fulfilling a positive role as a grandparent for your grandchildren.
The Extra Parent: How Grandparents Are Helping Out, Pitching In, and Raising Their Grandchildren by Elaine Denholtz
This book presents 10 grandparents of all ethnic, economic backgrounds that have either helped raise their grandchildren themselves, or have helped their adult children raise them. It also provides ideas as to how grandparents can fulfill their role when their grandchildren live a long distance away. What a great resource for all workshop facilitators to use to supplement the materials they already possess!
The Grandparent Guide: The Definitive Guide to Coping with the Challenges of Modern Grandparenting by Arthur Kornhaber
This book is an essential guide for grandparents raising their grandchildren because is covers such a broad selection of topics that are relevant to this relationship. Examples of topics covered include legal issues, visitations, estate planning, religious differences, divorce and much more. It is filled with wisdom in dealing with the issues that are most important to you as a grandparent.
Ticklebelly Hill: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren by Hilda Osborne
Who better to write a book about grandparents raising grandchildren than someone who has been there and done it? Hilda Osborne shares true stories that came from her experience of raising several of her grandchildren that will warm your heart and encourage you all who are currently doing so.
To Grandma's House, We...Stay: When You Have to Stop Spoiling Your Grandchildren and Start Raising Them by Sally Houtman
Grandparents may initially treat their grandchildren in a non-parental manner because of their lack of overall preparation for assuming the new role they taken on. This book helps grandparents assume the role of parent regarding their grandchildren, and examines the related issues they are facing. This book can be of benefit to all professionals who work with grandparents and the grandchildren they are parenting.