Summer is grandparents time, to share with picture books

Summer is the season for catching up with beloved grandparents, whether they’re near or far, and doing the things that make grandparents special. There’s nothing better than the stories, the food, the warmth and the love — and these tender picture books are perfect for sharing with a special someone.

“Poppy’s House” by Karla Courtney, illustrated by Madeline Kloepper. (Ages 4 through 8. Walker Books U.S. $17.99.)

For one little girl, going to visit Poppy is an adventure of crossing a foggy sea, past whales and icy mountains and wild forests until she reaches her destination: “On top of a hill, where the ocean shines on all sides, sits a little yellow house.”

With Poppy — on an unnamed island based on the author’s happy memories of Newfoundland — there is always something to do. They dig potatoes and tidy the house, pick cloudberries and explore the island, counting up its many treasures: ship masts, cod, stones, animal tracks. Then, “at the end of each day, as we curl up on his worn velvet armchair, we don’t count the numbers on the clock.”

The happy interlude ends with tears as they say goodbye — but also with a promise to count the days until they are together again.

“I’ll Go and Come Back” by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Sara Palacios. (Ages 3 through 7. Candlewick. $18.99.)

Jyoti and her grandmother, Sita Pati, have a special bond even though Jyoti doesn’t know much Tamil and Sita Pati doesn’t know much English.

When Jyoti flies across the world to visit her relatives in India, she’s lonely and disoriented, until Sita Pati takes Jyoti under her soft wing, making colored sand designs, tucking flowers into her hair, playing games and taking her to the market to get vegetables.

As they say farewell, Jyoti “remembered that no one in India just said ‘goodbye.’ ‘I’ll go and come back,’ I said.”

And when Sita Pati makes the same trip in reverse, Jyoti gets to return the love, keeping her grandmother company, making a colorful hopscotch pattern, playing board games and taking her to the grocery store to get snacks.

This tenderly illustrated tale of love that “stretch[es] across the world” and promises to always come back is a tribute to the connections between grandparents and children.

“A Gift for Nana” by Lane Smith. (Ages 4 through 8. Random House Studio. $18.99.)

Rabbit is on a quest to find a gift for his nana — not because it’s a holiday, or her birthday, but because she’s just Nana.

Author-illustrator Lane Smith’s flower-dappled world, full of big, expressive faces and textures that jump off the page, is full of surprises, and as Rabbit searches for that perfect gift, he chats with the moon, crosses paths with a spiky “stickler” and meets a hot-tempered volcano.

At the end of the journey, a perfect, giant carrot awaits, and so does a loving response from Nana, who “always said the best things.” After a crunchy snack, the day ends in the best way possible: with a warm, friendly lap and a story.