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Grand Tales and Grand Grins: Celebrating the Magic of Positive Aging with Intergenerational Stories

Guest post by author Anita Crawford Clark, 2024 Bronze Sponsor. 

Diverse children’s books are those that reflect the varied and multifaceted aspects of the world’s population, allowing children to explore, appreciate, and celebrate differences while finding common ground in shared human experiences. Diverse children’s books come in a multitude of shapes, sizes, and shades. They come in various voices and visual variety. They come by way of numerous authors, artist, and agents. They cover a plethora of topics. And even when the topic and characters seem germane to a specific culture, upon deeper reflection its clear they are representative of human qualities of any culture – love, fear, heartbreak, fear, hope, joy, faith, compassion, etc. 

You might wonder how positive aging themes fit in the diverse narrative? Intergenerational books explore different family structures and dynamics, and convey the importance of love, support, and understanding within families. They open meaningful and imaginative avenues for self-awareness and awareness of others for readers of all ages. In writing and illustrating Old to Joy, I knew I wanted to explore these dynamics. Much more than this, I knew I wanted to explore aspects of positive aging within the story. In my doctorate program I studied the benefits of positive aging and was inspired by what I found through research. Positive aging encompasses a holistic approach to health and well-being including physical, mental, and social aspects. The benefits extend beyond the individual to positively impact families, communities, and society as a whole. Reflecting this in a story presented many challenges. Striving to keep some sense of agency with my main character – six year old, Joy, I took the approach of allowing the grandmother in the story to suggests the benefits of older things and people. Ultimately, Joy came to her own thoughts and conclusion about these themes.

Children’s books that focus on positive aging and the special bond with grandparents can be heartwarming and educational experiences for readers of all ages. Just as the character, Joy spends time with her grandmother in the garden and around the house, and learns valuable life lessons about resilience, gratitude, and the beauty of growing older, today’s young reader can pick up and apply these characteristics in their own lives. Stories that not only celebrate the wisdom that comes with age but also highlight the importance of intergenerational connections serve as a reminder to children about the unique bond they share with their grandparents and the treasures that come with spending time together. The hope is that stories on positive aging will not only diminish the stigma towards aging present in many modern societies, but also to promote adopting a positive view of aging for ourselves. 

We should also keep in mind the numerous healthy rewards and benefits of a positive aging mindset – sometimes called successful aging. While not a guarantee, positive aging has been associated with increased lifespan, suggesting that a positive mindset and healthy habits can contribute to a longer, healthier life. This can also be seen as the ability to function in many areas such as: cognitive, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual domains in ways that are satisfactory to the individual. Living with a sense of purpose and leading a meaningful life can also help us embrace aging in a more positive light. 

Grandparents can be a source of inspiration for their grandchildren as they witness their zest for life, the joy found in simple pleasures, and the enduring love for one’s family. Stories can emphasize the positive aspects of aging by portraying grandparents as wise, fun, and full of tales that span generations. 

Bio: 

Anita Crawford Clark is a writer and illustrator of fiction and nonfiction books for children. Anita grew up chasing butterflies and fishing crawdads from a nearby creek during scorching Sacramento summers. Her stories and illustrations often reflect those memorable childhood years. Anita is an inaugural recipient of the SCBWI OMA (Out from the Margins) Award for her manuscript of debut picture book, OLD TO JOY , which releases on September 5, 2023. A veteran K-12 teacher, Anita especially enjoys directing musical theatre productions. The athlete in Anita enjoys shooting hoops. The musician in her enjoys playing the drums, piano, and banjo. Anita draws inspiration from her faith, nature, music, history, and everyday life. 

 

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