As a homeschool mom, I am in the thick of learning and teaching right now. While it’s a lot of fun to introduce my children to different subjects or activities, it can also be a challenge (especially when it’s a topic I don’t know a lot about).
Fortunately, I have books to help me out. We can read them to encourage us to try new activities or learn more about the ones we already love. For example, after reading the book about Rubik’s cubes my son and I learned how to solve them. My hope is that by sharing this list with you, you and your kids can find something new to try as well.
As an avid rock-climber, the first book, How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Fall) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi and illustrated by Yao Xiao is close to my heart. This illustrated non-fiction book is written by one of the best climbers in the world and it is about how climbers look at and solve problems (which is what rock climbers call a “bouldering challenge”). While the story’s angle focuses on climbing, the advice Shiraishi gives is applicable to any issue your child might face. For ages 4 to 7.
If you’ve ever tried to solve a Rubik’s cube, you probably know the confusion and struggle of the kids in Me and the Magic Cube by Daniel Fehr with illustrations by Golden Cosmos and translated from German by Marshall Yarbrough. The main character finds a magic cube in a box (which is the actual name of a Rubik’s cube). They think it’s six-coloured sides are beautiful, but after a bit of twisting, the sides don’t match up. No matter how much the main character tries, they can’t get the cube back together and neither can their friends. Alongside the story, the book is filled with facts about the Magic Cube from when it was invented, how it’s made and what’s the fastest it can be solved. If your kids are just getting into this 3D puzzle, they might be interested in learning more—it even has tips on how to understand directions to solve it. For ages 6 to 10.
The third book you might consider reading is Bunny Made Tea by Amanda Baehr Fuller. This cute story is all about a bunny who really wants a cup of tea. However, she is not the only one who wants the cozy beverage, so she must make it repeatedly without ever getting to drink a cup herself. What bunny doesn’t realize is that her guests are not just drinking tea, they’re learning too. For ages 2 to 5.
Another story that might kindle your children’s imaginations and desire to learn and try new things is My Friend the Paintbrush: The Colorful World of Mark Pfister and translated by David Henry Wilson. This book, which is as colourful as promised, is about the different styles and techniques that Pfister uses to create his illustrations. While the poem doesn’t cover precisely how he does it in the story, it shows your children what’s possible. There’s a gallery at the end where Pfister lists his books and explains what he did to create the images. For ages 4 to 7 (though older kids might enjoy reading about the techniques at the end).
The final book isn’t about an activity; it’s about an event. Welcome Uncle Nowruz: A Persian New Year’s Story by Rashin Kheiriyeh, is about Persian New Year’s and the arrival of spring. It’s a cute story about Nane Sarma who wants to stay awake to meet Uncle Nowruz. All her grandchildren gather to set the table with the seven items they need for the party, but Nane Sarma struggles to stay awake after all her hard work. For ages 4 to 7.
I hope these books encourage you and your children to try something new. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover a love for rock-climbing, solving Rubik cubes, making tea, painting, studying new holidays or something else.
