Distance doesn’t have to mean disconnection. Grandparents across the country are discovering that video call reading sessions create powerful bonds with grandchildren they can’t see in person every day. The right books turn screen time into story time, building literacy skills while strengthening family relationships.
Reading together over video requires books with specific qualities. Repetitive text lets children participate predictably. Clear illustrations show well on camera, and interactive elements invite response across the miles. These books turn passive screen watching into active literacy engagement that both generations treasure.
Whether you’re the grandparent planning the reading session or the parent helping facilitate it, these book choices and tips make long-distance reading feel wonderfully close.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
The rhythmic, predictable refrain lets children join in from across the screen. Grandparents can pause before each color or animal, giving grandchildren time to guess what comes next. The bold illustrations look beautiful on camera, even with a less-than-perfect internet connection.
Connection tip: Ask your grandchild to hold up something the same color as each page. “Can you find something red like the bird?” This turns passive listening into active participation, giving you glimpses into their world.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Counting combined with days of the week makes the video easy to understand visually. The progression through foods gives children clear participation points as they count items with their fingers each time the page changes.
Connection tip: Do a “food show and tell” where your grandchild finds a fruit mentioned in the book and brings it to the camera. This extends the story into their physical space, creating memorable moments beyond the pages.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
The alphabet rhythm keeps kids engaged even when the audio lags slightly. Children can chant letters alongside grandparents, clapping or drumming lightly for each “BOOM” moment. The repetitive structure means kids know precisely when to participate.
Connection tip: At the end, spell your grandchild’s name together. Hold up a whiteboard or paper and write each letter as you say it. This personalizes the alphabet lesson and makes them the stars of the story.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
The pigeon directly addresses the reader, so kids naturally reply to the screen as if talking to the bird. This conversational structure works perfectly for video calls, where interaction feels slightly different than in-person reading.
Participation cue: Prompt your grandchild with “Should we let him drive? Tell him no!” Their enthusiastic responses create engagement despite the physical distance. The pigeon becomes a shared character you both respond to together.
Connection tip: Create “pigeon rules” together at the end of the story. Each of you draws one rule for the next call, building continuity between sessions.
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
The calm, repeating bedtime cadence works excellently for evening video calls. Grandparents can help with bedtime routines from afar while building literacy skills through the soothing repetition.
Participation cue: Your grandchild says the repeated “goodnight” lines with you. The predictable structure lets them feel confident participating, and the gentle rhythm helps transition toward sleep.
Connection tip: Do “vehicle charades” where your grandchild picks a construction truck from the story and acts it out. You guess which one, creating playful interaction that extends beyond reading.
Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
The classic hide-and-seek structure invites prediction at every flap. While lift-the-flap books can be tricky on camera, this one works because kids predict what’s underneath before you reveal it.
Participation cue: Ask “Is Spot behind the door?” and wait for your grandchild to guess before showing the answer. The anticipation builds engagement across the screen.
Connection tip: End with a pet show-and-tell. Your grandchild introduces a real pet or stuffed animal on camera, extending the book’s theme into their immediate world.
I Went Walking by Sue Williams
The circular pattern creates natural pausing points where grandparents wait for children to supply the animal or color. “I went walking. What did you see? I saw a…” becomes a call-and-response game.
Participation cue: Pause dramatically before revealing each animal, giving your grandchild time to guess based on the color clues in the illustrations.
Connection tip: Ask your grandchild to “walk around” their room after reading, and have them share what they saw. This extends the book’s pattern into real life and gives you a tour of their space.
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Animal sounds combined with the repeated truck refrain create screen-safe engagement that works even with audio delays. Kids do the honks and animal sounds while grandparents handle narration.
Participation cue: Assign sounds before starting. “You be the duck, I’ll be the sheep.” This gives clear roles that work across video.
Connection tip: Create a “sound chorus” where everyone picks one favorite sound and joins in together at the end. The joyful noise becomes a shared memory.
Make Long-Distance Reading Feel Close
Use the camera deliberately and hold the book at an angle so the pages fill the screen as much as possible. Pause longer on illustrations than you would in person, giving your grandchild time to absorb details despite screen limitations.
Build predictable rituals. Open every call with a greeting rhyme: “Hello, hello, from far away. What will we read today?” Rituals create a sense of comfort and anticipation, making video reading sessions feel special rather than random.
Invite response every two to three pages. Repetition is your friend in remote reading. Ask predictable questions: “What comes next?” “What color is it?” “You read this part with me.” Give your grandchild clear chances to participate throughout.
End with a shared moment. Ask a final question tied to the story, favorite animal, color, or truck. Create continuity by saying, “Next time, you choose the book.” This builds anticipation for the next session and gives your grandchild a sense of ownership of the tradition.
Bridge Distance Through Story Time
Long-distance reading sessions do more than build literacy skills. They maintain relationships, create shared experiences, and give grandchildren the gift of your attention and voice. Books with repetitive text and opportunities for participation make this possible even when you can’t sit side by side.
For parents facilitating these sessions, the Reading.com app provides additional structure between grandparent video calls. Our systematic phonics lessons help children build the skills that make shared reading more successful. Start your 7-day free trial and strengthen the foundation that makes every reading session, whether in person or across the miles, more meaningful and effective.
