You know what happens right around this time? First, there’s a long weekend to celebrate Family Day, and shortly after that, kids will be home for a couple of weeks for Spring break. While both times can be a lot of fun, they can also be stressful.
Siblings might not get along, kids might be nervous to make new friends at their day camps and you might disagree with them about what qualifies as “fun.” So, if you are worried about all of this upcoming time off school, here are some books for you to check out.
The first book on my list is The Three Brothers by Marie-Louise Gay. This is a sweet book about brotherly love, looking out for one another and playing with each other. In the beginning, we learn that the three brothers love to read, and Finn, the oldest, often reads stories about animals to his younger siblings. After one story time, he tells his brothers that he wants to be an explorer when he grows up. Leo, the middle brother, thinks that it’s a great idea, but he has a better one: they should go on an adventure in the morning. So they do. For ages 4 to 8.
Another book that showcases healthy sibling relationships is Aqua Boy by Ken Wilson-Max. This story follows Aaron as he struggles with his love for and fear of the ocean. But as he wrestles with the allure of the water and the nerves it evokes in him, his parents and sister remind him that he will get there in his own time. When he does, it’s in a completely magical way with a one-of-a-kind encounter of an aquatic animal. This beautifully illustrated book captures the importance of environmental care, overcoming your fears and being confident in yourself (even if that confidence is saying “I’m not ready yet”). For ages 4 to 7.
Did you know that “fun helps us learn, be creative, bond with others and, of course, put us in a better mood?” Well, that’s just one of the facts you’ll uncover in Are We Having Fun Yet? The Human Quest for a Good Time by Maria Birmingham and illustrated by Katy Dockrill. After reading this book, your kids will also be able to tell you what researchers think the first toy was, where the first playground was and why their siblings or friends find different things fun. There are so many exciting and fascinating facts in this book! If your child wants to learn about music, art, family and fads, this story is for them. For ages 9 to 12.
Once your children know a little bit about fun and games, they might be excited to show off their new knowledge. While this can be a good thing, for some kids, it might mean their listening ears turn off. If that’s the case with your child, they might enjoy reading Listen up Louella by Ashley Belote. This story, which is about maintaining healthy relationships with your friends, talks about the elephant Louella’s time at Roar Scout Camp. She has a fantastic time. Unfortunately, no one else does because she isn’t listening to them. But when she finally learns to listen, she is able to be a best friend. For ages 4 to 7.
Another book that has a similar theme to Listen Up Louella is You Go First by Ariel Bernstein and illustrated by Marc Rosenthal because it is also about being aware of how others are feeling. In this story, Cat and Duck are excited to play on the slide at the park, but the slide is new. It’s bigger. It’s curvier. And, to Cat, it is terrifying. Since he no longer wants to go down it, he tries to convince Duck to play somewhere else. He ends up scaring her and realizes that he needs to fix his mistake. This book, with its surprising ending, is a great read about friendship and letting others do things at their own pace. For ages 4 to 8.
I know having children off school can sometimes elicit feelings of concern about what they will do, if they will have friends at their activities or if they will get along with their siblings. I hope these books help you and your family have a peaceful Family Day and Spring break, and that your time together is filled with fun and laughter instead of fighting.
