Nikki Tate writes to say she has a new book out: Grandparents’ Day, illustrated by Benoît Laverdière (Annick Press, 2004).

Grandparents’ day falls the second Sunday in September. And no, it was not invented by Hallmark. I would like to wish my grandma Dorothy and grandma Melba a happy Grandparents’ Day.

Anyone wishing to find out more about me and Grandma Dorothy should read my short story, “The Naked Truth,” from In My Grandmother’s House: Award-Winning Authors Tell Stories About Their Grandmothers, edited and illustrated by Bonnie Christensen (Harper, 2003). Other contributing authors: Joan Abelove; Alma Flor Ada, Bonnie Christensen; Beverly Cleary; Pat Cummings; Jean Craighead George; Minfong Ho; Ji-li Jang; Gail Carson Levine; Beverly Naidoo; and Diane Stanley.

Along those same lines, three of my books feature strong grandparent characters: Grampa Halfmoon from Indian Shoes (Harper, 2002), Grampa Berghoff from Rain Is Not My Indian Name (Harper, 2001), Grandma Wolfe from Jingle Dancer (Morrow/Harper, 2000).

And Greg‘s next book, Tofu And T.Rex (Little Brown, spring 2004) features a wonderful grandfather character, Opa Kowalski. Keep an eye out for it.

You also can check my Web site for an entire bibliography of grandparent-related titles.