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Challenge: Reading Together

10 Best Books About Babysitters

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how to babysit a grandma

It is important for children to get used to spending time with babysitters and other caregivers besides mom and dad. Hanging out with babysitters can be a wonderful experience, but may cause some anxious feelings for some children. Here is a list of books which portray babysitters in a positive light. Some of these books are silly and some are sweet, but they are all wonderful ways to prepare your child for the fun times they will have when a babysitter comes over to play!

How To Babysit a Grandma

When your grandma comes over, there are certain things kids must learn to babysit a grandma! Sections include: How to keep a grandma busy; Things to do at the park; Possible places to sleep, and what to do once you're both snugly tucked in for the night. This is an adorable book for grandparents to read with grandchildren.

2. How to Babysit a Grandpa

From the same serious as "How to Babysit a Grandma," this book explains how to babysit a grandpa! Tips include what to eat for snack (anything dipped in ketchup, ice cream topped with cookies, cookies topped with ice cream) what to do on a walk (find lizards and dandelion puffs, be on the lookout for puddles and sprinklers), and how to play with a grandpa (build a pirate cave, put on a scary play). This book is filled with humor, energy, and warmth. It is perfect for lap reading when Grandpa comes to visit!

3. The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter

Left with a babysitter for the first time, Brother and Sister Bear are certain they won't like her. But with her bag of tricks and comforting way of tucking them in, Mrs. Grizzle wins them over.

4. The Cat in the Hat

Poor Dick and Sally. It's cold and wet and they're stuck in the house with nothing to do . . . until a giant cat in a hat shows up, transforming the dull day into a madcap adventure and almost wrecking the place in the process! Written by Dr. Seuss in 1957, these book remains a favorite with children everywhere. The Cat in the Hat is story about a wonderfully silly babysitter!

5. Just Me and My Babysitter

Mercer Mayer's very funny and popular Little Critter character is at it again. In this lively picture book, he sees himself as the baby sitter's big helper, but his help ends up turning the house upside down. By the end of the evening Little Critter and his little sister still have energy to spare, while the well-meaning sitter is utterly exhausted.

6. First Time Babysitter

Will I like my babysitter? Will we have fun? How long will they stay? There's a FIRST TIME for everything! Reading Baby Sitter with your child is the perfect opportunity to talk about these questions, and many more! Young children's lives are full of new experiences, and these books help make these enjoyable and rewarding.

7. No Babysitters Allowed

Hopscotch is a very brave bunny, except when his parents go out and Mrs. Honeybunch comes to stay. She wants to play, but Hopscotch would much rather be alone in his special NO BABYSITTERS ALLOWED fort - that is, until he hears Mrs. Honeybunch reading his books all wrong. This is a sweet and funny story about separation anxiety that will help young children (and their worried parents) feel comfortable and safe when a babysitter comes over.

8. An Evening at Alfie's

Mom and Dad have gone out for the night, leaving a babysitter, Maureen, to look after Alfie and Annie Rose. Everything is quiet until water starts dripping from the ceiling! With a little help Maureen's parents, the leak is soon under control. Following the climactic turning of the water main, Alfie turns from the excitement of the water to comfort his little sister, and helps the adults figure out why she is crying. This is a warm and engaging book with beautiful illustrations.

9. I Wanna Go Home

Alex is not happy about being sent to his grandparents’ while his parents go on a fabulous vacation. What could be worse than tagging along to Grandma’s boring bridge game or enduring the sight of Grandpa’s dentures? But as the week goes on, Alex’s sad emails to his parents turn into stories about ice cream before dinner and stickball with Grandpa. Before he knows it, Alex has made a surprising discovery: grandparents are way cooler than he thought!

10. Good Dog Carl

The favorite original story about Carl the responsible rottweiler is presented in a sturdy board book edition and follows the adventures shared by the babysitting dog and his infant mistress.

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