Diving Deeper with Books

There are many who have gone before and most assuredly will come after, who will have more profound thoughts on reading.

For most parents, though, we know that reading aloud to our kids through the ages is extremely valuable. We know this even though it can be difficult to actually sit down and make it happen. I’ve mentioned some tips HERE for engaging your kids while reading, but I want to use this time to specifically encourage you to view books as tools to dive a little deeper.

Especially during any unforeseen transition, life change, time of loss or grieving, it may be challenging to find the appropriate words to say to our kids or to tap into their inner dialogue, so I thought I would share a few of my favorite books for drawing out discussion during a difficult time with your little ones.

View your books as a jumping off point into deeper areas that are challenging to access otherwise.

Please know, you don’t need to buy these specific books to have meaningful time with your children, but may I encourage you to look on your own bookshelf and think about how you can use the books you do have to jump off into discussion about the world, about your family, about your experiences, and about feelings?

Today is a great time to start. We are all finding ourselves in a new normal. Our children are processing the unknowns, fears and sorrows right alongside of us. What can we do to engage even the youngest in our home?

Read.

Ask questions.

See where it leads.

In case you are interested, I spent time talking through each of these titles a little more on my IGTV (click here if you want to tune in). Below I have included links to Amazon in case you want to check them out!

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May I Bring a Friend? - Beatrice Schenk de Regniers

  • Have a tea party with friends! Gather your friends on zoom or find your favorite stuffed animals and read this darling book. Have tea (or apple juice) with the Queen/King (mom/dad) and your friends. Remind your children they have many friends and the art of gathering is still just as valuable, if not more.

The Pout-Pout Fish - Deborah Diesen

  • Combat the inner pouting and tantrums in our hearts each day with this cute read. Talk with your children about what would it take to turn that ‘pout’ upside down! Hint: It is L-O-V-E. Even in a hard season, the fact that you are there and you are showing up for each other every day, gives everyone a reason to smile!

A Sick Day for Amos McGee - Philip C. Stead

  • One book many of us have on our shelves already is also a great book to talk about the investment of friendship and being there for one another even on the sick days! Read it now in a new light while so many around us are suffering with sickness.

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Roxaboxen - Alice McLerran

  • Get out your cardboard boxes (a few days after an Amazon delivery, of course) and create your very own town! The creativity is sure to flow after reading this magical book. Look around the house and use what you can find!

Lights Out! - Lucille Recht Penner

  • This book gives some great ideas for adding math into your everyday, especially for the urban resident. If you are living in a city or in an apartment building, use this for some inspiration to keep your child busy counting the windows and the lights!

Harold and the Purple Crayon - Crockett Johnson

  • This simple, entertaining book is a reminder for all of us that sometimes art is a better expression than words. Allow your child to draw while listening to a book, to music, or to journal what they are feeling.

A Fine, Fine School - Sharon Creech

  • An entertaining book about a school who learns they don’t need to be in a building in order for learning to take place. Be encouraged that there are trees to climb, siblings to help and plenty to learn in the everyday!

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Spoon - Amy Krouse Rosenthal

  • This is one of my favorites, equally engaging for the parent and the child. Dealing with the idea of comparison, it reminds us that we all have something to be thankful for and we were each made for a unique purpose.

Maggie’s Monkeys - Linda Sanders-Wells

  • Imagination runs wild in this cute book. We are all reminded to enter into the imagination of our children and who knows, you might enjoy it!

Town Mouse Country Mouse - Jan Brett

  • This book is a great place to put new eyes on and think about others who live in a different part of the country or world than us. Ask a lot of questions and build compassion for those living in a variety of environments.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore - William Joyce

  • A great read for your older elementary children as it starts out with the main character writing down his own story. Each day he writes his joys and sorrows. Use this as a way to encourage journaling or discussing your own joys and sorrows in this time. Remind your child their lives, even in this season, are about a larger story God is writing with their life and fall in love with the power of books all over again with this beautifully illustrated book.

The Lightlings - R.C. Sproul

  • This is a great read for any time of year. It addresses our fears of darkness, and how light shines in the darkness. It is a beautiful allegory for the power of light.