Making the book
What to write in a photo book for Grandma
The blank box that says "write a note" stops more people than choosing photos does. The good news is that the notes grandparents treasure are short and plain. Nobody keeps a greeting-card verse. They keep "you taught me to make gravy and I think of you every Sunday."
A simple shape
- Start with her name, the way you say it: Dear Nana, Dear Gran, Dear Grandma.
- Say one thing that happened this year that she'd want to know.
- Say one thing you remember, or one thing she taught you.
- Say when you'll see her next.
- Sign off the way you always do.
Four or five sentences is plenty. Each person's note is printed in large type on a page of its own.
Openers that work
- "I was thinking about you last week when…"
- "You'll laugh at this."
- "The thing I remember most about your house is…"
- "I still make it the way you showed me."
- "Every time I see a robin / a rose / a crossword, I think of you."
For adult children
Tell her something about her grandchildren she hasn't heard, and thank her for one specific thing. "Thank you for everything" slides past. "Thank you for driving up when Leo was born and doing every night feed for a week" does not.
For teenagers
Teenagers write two words unless prompted. Ask them one question and type what they say: What's the best thing Grandma cooks? What does she always say? What do you want to do with her next time? Their answer, in their words, is the note.
For small children
Write down exactly what they say, mistakes and all, and put their age after their name. "I love you because you have biscuits. Mia, age 5." Or photograph a drawing and add it as one of the photos.
If words are hard
Some families aren't letter writers, and some relationships are complicated. A caption under each photo is enough: who is in it, where, and when. Facts are a kind of affection too.
Read it aloud once before you save it. If it sounds like you talking, it's right.
What to leave out
- Apologies for not visiting. Say when you're coming instead.
- Health advice.
- Anything you'd want her to read privately. Visitors will be shown this book.
For the lines under each picture, see 50 photo book caption ideas.