Reading Corner: Books for Kids
Eat your veggies, get plenty of sleep and brush your teeth twice daily: These are just some of the many lessons our parents pass down to us as we grow up to prepare us for basic lifelong wellness routines. Studies show that reading with your children is another fundamental routine that leads to lifelong benefits. A 2014 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that reading to infants “exerts a positive effect on the developing brain.” Reading to kids does more than increase brain function and make them smarter; other research by Emory University found that kids and teens who read develop more empathy and emotional literacy than those who don’t. It’s never too early to prepare your child for success, so pick up one of these fun reads and get started today.
When Sadness Is at Your Door
by Eva Eland
This picture book gives parents a creative way to discuss emotions with their kids. Sadness and anger can be scary for younger kids who don’t understand what they are or why they’re feeling this way. When Sadness Is at Your Door teaches kids to approach those feelings as if you would a visitor who has a name and a personality that you can get to know and even do activities with. Eva Eland seeks to create familiarity with these emotions, through the absence of a narrative that describes these feelings as “bad,” which is an anxiety-producing notion.
Spend It!
by Cinders McLeod
Spend It! is part of Cinders McLeod’s Moneybunny series that aims to teach young readers about money. In this volume, Sonny is a little bunny that earns three carrots each week for his allowance—seems like a lot of carrots for a small bunny to handle himself! Luckily, Sonny has a smart mom who helps guide him through his options, whether it be a bouncy house or treats. Eventually, after a little math and a little more thinking, he discovers the perfectly important item worth spending his carrots on.
The Sad Little Fact
by Jonah Winter and Pete Oswald
Telling the truth is hard sometimes, but not for this little fact. This book follows the tale of a little fact that could not lie, but no one ever believed him. He gets locked away with all the other facts, and the world goes dark. With the help of the other facts, this sad little fact teams up with fact finders to make a daring escape and bring the truth back to brighten the world. This sad little fact stands as a testament to the importance of honesty.
Hair Love
by Matthew A. Cherry and Vashti Harrison
This ode to father-daughter relationships follows Zuri, a young girl, and her father as they attempt to tackle her extra-special hair together. Zuri’s hair has a mind of its own: it curls, kinks, coils and expands every which way, and she loves it. When her father steps in to help style it, it becomes obvious that he has a lot to learn, but he will do whatever it takes to make Zuri—and her hair—happy. Hair Love, by former NFL wide receiver Matthew Cherry and New York Times best-selling illustrator Vashti Harrison, teaches kids the importance of self-love and family.