“In the Books”
a safe place to sink into the quiet and disappear among the stories that line the shelves
Began a new journey last week with the start of a new job at the Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library. I’m right back where I started before having children…living among the books. Though I miss being home every day on the farm, it’s good for me to have another focus to call my own.
Since my mama passed away three years ago, I have struggled with finding purpose again. A library has always felt like a home away from home for me; a safe place to sink into the quiet and disappear among the stories that line the shelves. The quietness of the country library mixed with moments of conversations with the patrons reminds of the simplicity I long for day to day.
Watching the faces of children light up as they check out new books never gets old. It reminds me how much I miss my own girls being little and wanting to curl up next to me with their favorite book. Reading aloud is such a treasure that somehow gets lost as we grow older. As adults, we often lose the wonder of the stories held between the pages of a book. Maybe it’s society’s expectations of “don’t be so childish” or lack of time to enjoy the simple things in life, I happen to think it’s both.
Explosion of Feelings
Kids feel all kinds of emotions. They see different feelings in their homes, their schools, and everywhere they go! Here are a list of children’s books that highlight different types of emotions so they know there are others just like them.
The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas, 2012 (all about feelings)
When Sadness is at Your Door by Eva Eland, 2019 (sadness)
Rhino Swallowed a Storm by LeVar Burton, 2014 (fear, overwhelm)
Olivia Wrapped in Vines by Maude Nepveu-Villeneuve, 2022 (anxiety)
The Anger Inside by Michelle Clayton, 2022 (anger)
My Worried Worrier by Christopher Fequiere, 2021 (worry)
The Jar of Happiness by Ailsa Burrows, 2016 (happiness)
Marigold & Daisyby Andrea Zuill, 2018 (jealousy)
Invest in the Children
From the time I knew I was first expecting, I collected books for my children. I read to them before they were born in hopes of instilling a love for words. As they snuggled in my lap, I read so they could know the meaning of time well spent. As they grew, I read to encourage their vocabulary. As they were learning to read to themselves, I continued to read books to give them a desire to read more. As they mastered reading, I read aloud so we could share in family learning.
Our wise children’s librarian and storyteller once shared with me, let them read books that are below their level for pure enjoyment, encourage them to read books on their level for gaining confidence, provide books for them above their reading level to give a challenge to reach, and let them see you reading as an example of continual learning.
As adults, we are often discouraged from using our imagination. So much of what we do in day to day life becomes routine and simply regurgitating information. Imagination is a gift to be opened and should never be put back in a box. Books of all kinds keep the imagination growing and stretching in all directions.
Reading books allows us to travel without leaving our seat. With our world changing at such a fast pace and turning more and more to electronic devices, may we never replace the value of a book we hold in our hands.
There are libraries and bookstores in nearly every town. But if you need the convenience of quality books that will teach you and your children as well as encourage imagination while providing a virtual trip around the world, look no further than USBORNE BOOKS & MORE. If you need a friendly consultant for guidance, contact Dawin Strelow at https://x8464.myubam.com/
Happy Reading!
“Oh, magic hour, when a child first knows she can read printed words!” — A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1943
A Story Without Words
As a writer, words are a source of joy, and they are a necessity in my life! But being a photographer has taught me to also see stories within images. Needless to say, wordless books bring a new sense of delight to my reading repertoire.
Books without words create beautiful opportunities for storytelling. They can be a powerful confidence booster to a struggling child learning to read. They allow for creativity in expression both in the making of the book as well as the telling of the story. For older kids, allow them to explore writing using wordless books as their inspiration. They can create new characters, try out literary elements, use descriptive settings, etc. to increase their writing skills.
Engaging the reader with skills such as critical thinking, imaginative play, and sequential order of events are just a few things offered with a book free from written words. It invites a reader to co-author a story with their own emotions! The best thing of all is that wordless books are perfect for any age…the perfect prompt to practice the art of storytelling!
As you reading or listening to someone read a wordless story to you, encourage questions about the character, the setting, the senses, the theme or meaning behind the story, the conflict or problem, resolution (if there is one) and why the reader chose their particular plot. No two wordless books will be read with the same story. That is the pure joy of it…there is no right or wrong way to share the story. Enjoy the journey!
A collection of some favorites are listed below! Check them out and start sharing your own interpretive storytelling with those you love most! As The Story Starter, I am a HUGE fan of wordless books! Let me know which of these special books make your favorite list. Oh, and I’d LOVE to hear your story version to your favorite!
The Flower Man by Mark Ludy
Found by Jeff Newman and Larry Day
One Little Bag by Henry Cole
Hike by Pete Oswald
Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
Professional Crocodile by Giovanna Zoboli
Another by Christian Robinson
Waltz of the Snowflakes by Elly Mackay
Bee & Me by Alison Jay
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
Float by Daniel Miyares
The Hero of Little Street by Gregory Rogers
Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson
Changes, Changes by Pat Hutchins
The Little Paintbrush by Bjorn Rorvick
Fly by Mark Teague
Chalk by Bill Thomson
Journey by Aaron Becker
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Wave by Suzy Lee
Door by Jihyeon Lee
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Why by Nikolai Popov
Draw the Line by Kathyrn Otoshi
Window by Jeannie Baker
Carl Goes Shopping by Alexander Day
Sector 7 by David Weisner
Alphabet City by Stephen Johnson
Flashlight by Liz Boyd
Owl, Bat, Bat, Owl by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
Goodnight, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann