If you feel like your child has been spending too much time with their eyes on a screen lately, you aren’t alone. One way to combat excess screen time is to provide children with ample alternatives, including engaging and interactive printed books. Consider heading to a local library or placing an order with an independent bookstore online and adding some new stories to your child’s collection. To help get you started, the team here at 百花视频 has put together a list of recommendations for children’s books beyond the classics.
Most of the titles below are readily available on Amazon but like many, we are aiming to support independent and small businesses during this difficult time so we have included links to local bookstores across the country for online purchase options whenever possible.
For Children Facing Stress
Helping children develop useful coping skills is essential, especially during this time of uncertainty when kids may be seeing friends and family less, facing cancelled plans and managing disruptions to normal routines. We recommend聽, an interactive self-help book for children ages 6-12 and a Gold NAPPA (National Parenting Publications Awards) winner. For little ones, we love聽, a sensitive picture book for ages 3-6. The book is part of the聽Big Bright Feelings聽series by Tom Percival, which aim to “provide kid-friendly entry points into emotional intelligence topics.” Another great choice for children 4-8 is M茅lanie Watt’s聽; the story follows a young squirrel who confronts his fear of leaving his home. Supplement these stories with the聽, an interactive book that teaches over 75 coping skills for children to try plus over 20 worksheets. Younger children (recommended for those as young as 5 years) can work through the book with a caregiver while older children can use it on their own.
For the Outdoor Explorer
Children spending time outdoors this summer may benefit from some of our favorite books on environmentally friendly practices and how we can all help preserve the earth. One of our favorites is聽,聽a beautiful picture book聽(ages 3-7) that explains ocean pollution through the eyes of sea creatures and helps children understand what they can do to help. Another gem is聽; the book tells the stories of 43 endangered animals from around the world with suggestions on how we can all help save them from extinction. It’s full of facts young children and adults will find fascinating, as well as gorgeous illustrations. We also love聽Jeanette Winter’s聽聽(ages 4-8), an illustrated story following Jane Goodall’s life from childhood to her time聽in the forests of Tanzania to her current quest to protect chimpanzees and other primates.
For Future Leaders
For ambitious young women of all ages (recommended for 3+), we adore the聽I聽highlighting leaders such as Michelle Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Serena Williams. For children 8 and up, we love the聽New York Times聽bestseller聽,聽which features聽100 bedtime stories about the lives of extraordinary women from the past and the present and illustrations by 60 female artists from around the world. Another聽New York Times聽bestseller we love is聽聽by聽Vashti Harrison, a book for children 8+ celebrating the achievements of 36 diverse women; for younger children, the author published聽, a board book covering the same topic.
For Young Artists
Creative children will love聽听补苍诲听聽by聽Laura Vaccaro Seeger (ages 2-6); the books are thoughtful explorations of all the things color can be. In the review, the聽New York Times聽stated聽鈥溾�he reader who settles down and slowly pages through its gorgeous acrylic paintings or, better yet, reads it aloud to a young child, will find rich rewards.” We couldn’t agree more!
Joanne Liu’s wonderful, whimsical and colorful book聽聽(ages 4-8) follows a young boy on his journey through a museum, where he interacts with works by聽masters such as Henri Matisse, Alexander Calder, Johannes Vermeer and Piet Mondrian,聽and, at the same time, realizes there is beauty all around us, from the patterns of light on the floor to fellow museum goers’ clothing.
For Curious Minds
For budding inventors, we suggest聽聽(ages 3-8); the story promotes creativity, resilience and passion as the real-life protagonist follows his dream of becoming an inventor and cartoonist. Similarly, we love聽聽(ages 3-7), a story following a young girl with a brilliant idea; it addresses her setbacks and frustrations, joys and successes as she sees her idea through, highlighting the concept that the path to success is not always a straight line – mistakes are a natural part of the process.
For children interested in how the world works, we recommend聽聽(ages 6-9).聽Robert Winston聽is Professor of Science and Society and Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College London; in this kid-friendly book, he answers questions ranging from聽Why do stars twinkle?聽to聽How do our bodies heal?聽and covers topics related to chemistry, the human body, earth and space.
Educator and psychologist Dr. JoAnn Deak’s book聽聽teaches ways that the brain can develop and grow with use and exercise, just like other parts of the body. The book has become known as one of the best growth mindset books for kids.
More Resources
To find many of the independent booksellers we linked to in this newsletter, we used this聽聽of independent bookstores across the country that are currently offering online ordering and shipping.
Another great option to get books in your children’s hands and in the hands of children in need is the聽;聽the subscription service send three new picture books (ages 2-6) and an educational coloring activity to your home each month; for every book the company sends you, they donate one to聽,聽the leading provider of quality books to聽under-served children in Chicago.
As always, we’re here to assist with all your household staffing needs during this challenging time. Both childcare and cleaning professionals are considered essential workers and we have implemented strict protocols to make sure your family is as safe as possible.聽Contact us聽today to learn more.