RESOURCES
Growing Up and Growing Older:
Books for Young Readers
"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child." - Dr. Seuss
Selected Work from the 2025 Booklist
Explore a curated selection of standout titles from our 2025 Booklist. These books showcase diverse voices, compelling stories, and thought-provoking ideas that captured our attention this year.
Wild Places
by Philip C. Stead; Matthew Cordell (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780593618097
Publication Date: 2024-02-27
An inspiring picture book biography of David Attenborough, the naturalist and broadcaster who brought the wonders of the wild to millions. From a childhood love of nature to decades of groundbreaking documentaries, his story reveals both the beauty of our planet and the urgent need to protect it.
Every Dog in the Neighborhood
by Philip C. Stead; Matthew Cordell (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780823444274
Publication Date: 2022-06-21
Louis decides to count every dog in the neighborhood to prove to his Grandma that there aren't enough. After meeting numerous dogs and other pets, he returns home with a surprising conclusion, but Grandma suggests there might be room for one more.
Berry Song
by Michaela Goade
ISBN: 9780316494175
Publication Date: 2022
"Ocean Speaks" is a radiant portrayal of intergenerational wisdom and reverence for the land, as a girl and her grandmother gather gifts from nature on their island home. Through vibrant illustrations and lyrical prose, Michaela Goade invites readers to embrace a deeper connection with the earth, celebrating the bonds between generations and the beauty of the natural world.
Spanish Is the Language of My Family
by Michael Genhart; John Parra (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780823450046
Publication Date: 2023-07-11
A young boy forms a special bond with his grandmother as they prepare for his school's Spanish spelling bee. Despite her past struggles with language restrictions, her support motivates him to study diligently, aiming to honor his family and cultural heritage through victory.
Swashby and the Sea
by Beth Ferry; Juana Martinez-Neal (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780544707375
Publication Date: 2020-05-05
Captain Swashby cherishes his tranquil life by the sea until an energetic girl and her grandmother move in next door, disrupting his peace. Despite his initial frustration, Swashby's attempts to communicate through sand messages are foiled by the playful waves, leading him to realize that perhaps the sea understands his needs better than he does himself.
About the Author of the Children's Reading List: Dr. Sandra McGuire
Dr. Sandra McGuire has spent her professional career focused on understanding the process of aging, and studying the importance of communicating the positive aspects of aging to younger generations not only for better lives for those who are aging in front of them but also for children to look forward to living lives as older adults that are filled with love, adventure, and purpose. Inspiring our youth to view older adults and aging as a gift instead of a curse has been the fuel behind Sandra's countless hours spent creating this annotated list of children's literature.
Dr. McGuire is an advocate for combating ageism and promoting positive aging. Positive aging encompasses attitudes, lifestyles, and activities that maximize the potentials of life’s later years and enhance quality of life. She has presented at conferences and published in journals including: Childhood Education, Journal of School Nursing, Educational Gerontology, Journal of Health Education, and Creative Education; books including: The Encyclopedia of Ageism and Violence, Neglect and the Elderly; and in the federal Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) system. Dr. McGuire is a co-author of a 6th edition community health nursing text where she contributed information on aging. She is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was an Assistant Dean and Professor (Caylor School of Nursing) at Lincoln Memorial University, and is a Fellow of the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE). She serves on the Gerontological Society of American (GSA) K-12 Gerontology Education and Intergenerational Interest Groups. Dr. McGuire is director of the Kids Are Tomorrow’s Seniors (KATS) program and served as a member of AARP’s National Policy Council. Her annotated booklist: Growing Up and Growing Older: Books for Young Readers is available, free online at http://library.lmunet.edu/booklist.
Contact her at smcguire@utk.edu