Losing a loved one is a terrible part of life, and it can be difficult for kids to understand. Dealing with grief, and understanding loss, can be hard for adults to handle. For kids, it can be even more confusing. Talking to them about their emotions is an important step in helping children handle grief. Jalisa Rose Smith offers a book which provides talking points and journal prompts to help with these conversations. She lost her father when she was 11 and decided that she wanted to help others handle the pain of loss.
Category Archives: Books
Getting Down with Gerald the Giraffe!
Coming from a very tall family, giraffes have always held a special place in my heart. When the Monthly Crafting Book Club, run by Raising Fairies and Knights, selected Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae, we had to rush to the library to check it out! This story presents a great lesson on self-esteem and dancing to the beat of your own drum in a fun and colorful package.
Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post.
Using Books to Teach Kids about Food Allergies
Food allergies are a serious condition which can be hard for kids to understand. While they may know that their friend can’t eat certain foods, they may not understand how that affects their daily lives. While kids can try their best to avoid their allergen, they need to be hyper-vigilant. Luckily, there are many books available to teach kids about dealing with food allergies with respect and empathy.
Celebrating Mardi Gras with the Bourbon Street Band!
Since my daughter was born, my parents have started a new tradition where they bring her a book from the places that they visit on their trips. They include a note about their visit and the things they saw there. I love that she will have this collection of special books from all over, and this special connection with her grandparents.
While they were traveling through New Orleans, they picked up Ed Shankman’s book The Bourbon Street Band is Back, about the power of music and the strength of New Orleans. While today’s book isn’t a book about Mardi Gras, it is a book about the city of New Orleans and the beauty of the music and the fun atmosphere found there. Once a year, Mardi Gras brings everyone’s attention to New Orleans. The colors, the food, the music and the beads provide a fun and colorful experience which can be fun to introduce to kids in a family friendly way. There are so many great Mardi Gras activities for kids and families to enjoy together.
Mixing it Up with the Mixed Up Chameleon!
Chameleons are awesome animals. They can blend in with their surroundings and change their appearance to suit their needs. Who doesn’t want to have that ability sometimes? The beauty of chameleons is that no matter how they change on the outside, they are still the same on the inside. This is such a great lesson for kids about being proud of who they truly are!
Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post.
Finding Joy in The Book of Joy
Are you having trouble finding joy in your life? There is a difference between feeling happiness and feeling really, truly joyful. That is an important point that the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu want to make clear to those seeking joy. While we can experience happiness while eating a delicious bit of food or watching a TV show we enjoy, it is not the same as true lasting joy in your life.
Over the course of a week in the Dalai Lama’s home in Dharamsala, India, these two spiritual men engaged in deep conversations. These include discussions on the nature of joy, the obstacles to joy, and the positive qualities needed for joy. Their hope was to help people find joy in their lives, even as the world seems to be less joyful. This book is the result of those conversations between these two great spiritual leaders.
Go on an Adventure with River Rose!
On a recent visit to the library, my daughter and I discovered the book River Rose and the Magical Lullaby written by Kelly Clarkson (the singer), and she has since fallen in love with it! My daughter loves this story and the adorable illustrations (I just want to hug little Joplin!). I like the lullaby and the message River Rose learns about needing to sleep and home being the best place. I also appreciate that the lullaby helps lull her to sleep!
Fantastic Children’s Books About Love
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. It’s a great opportunity to remind the people in your life that you love them. (Yes, we should tell them everyday, but it never hurts to have a reminder!) One of my daughter’s favorite books to read is I Love You Because You’re You by Liza Baker. While reading it again, I was inspired to find other great children’s books about love to tell her how much I love her.
Getting Through Winter with Frederick!
The long winter months can really start to get you down and make you miss the bright and sunshiny days of spring and summer. The story of Frederick by Leo Lionni combats these winter blues with bright colors and warm memories. It also shows kids how important art and poetry are to our lives, and how everyone can make a difference with their own individual talents.
Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post.
Great Books for Strong Girls!
No matter your political affiliation, this election was an important one. Girls growing up today will have a different perspective on what they are capable of. They may not understand the debates and the negativity from both candidates, but they can see that there was a woman who could have been the next president.
My parents raised my sister and I to understand that girls can do anything. It is so important to me that my daughter is raised believing that she can do anything that she sets her mind to. (Given the state of politics in this country, I’m not sure that I would like her in politics, but I want her to believe she can do it!) To help me teach her that girls can do anything, I want to surround her with books about strong female characters, both real and fiction. Here are some great books about strong girls to add to your library!
