Summer means academic downtime for many children, making it the perfect time to bridge that summer gap with books that interest your child. Books are powerful tools that can introduce children to people and places that may be familiar or unique to them. They can promote empathy and encourage initiative. Books can take children on a trip to the stars or help them to decode the depths of the earth. Whatever your child’s interest there is a book that can excite and ignite their enthusiasm.
Before purchasing any book, talk with your child first and discover what subjects interest them most. These discussions can help you stay connected with your child while encouraging your faith in their abilities to make decisions. If children are part of this decision-making process they will be more likely to read the books they’ve chosen.
Parents can also contact the American Library Association (ALA) for suggestions. The ALA offers a division dedicated to reviewing books and can help parents and children locate books with themes that interest them.
Below is a list of books filled with themes that can promote healthy attitudes in your child. Let’s get started!
Beautiful Oops
Written and Illustrated by Barney Saltzberg
Published by Workman Publishing
Of course it’s okay to make mistakes! Some of life’s most valuable lessons are learned from them. These are the lessons that we want to teach our children. Beautiful Oops teaches children that their mistakes can actually evolve into something more creative than they imagined.
Saltzberg’s Beautiful Oops is filled with pop-ups, tears, holes, overlays, bends, smudges, and an accordion telescope, showing how an “oops” can turn into an “awe.”
Big
Written by Colleen Paratore
Illustrated by Clare Fennell
Published by Little Pickle Press
For sure, the word “big” can mean different things depending on the context in which it’s used. Author Colleen Paratore introduces children to “big” in a way that promotes their best self. Big moves well beyond its affiliation with a particular size or event to help children understand that “big” can exist in our ability to foster the health, imagination, and social responsibility in others and ourselves.
Little Pickle Press
The OK Book
Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrated by Tom Lichenheld
Published by Harper Collins Publishing
Well done Amy & Tom!
The OK Book demonstrates that children should not allow mastery to impede their enjoyment. It’s a wonderful reminder for parents to encourage children to experience and enjoy those things that interest them, even if they find they’re not particularly great at it. Doing so will encourage children to discover their individual strengths and bare their distinct personalities!
Rosenthal and Litchtenheld do a great job at showing us how “OK” can be quite wonderful.
Rosie Revere, Engineer
Written by Andrea Beaty
Illustrated by David Roberts
Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers
Beaty and Roberts do a wonderful job promoting initiative and purpose in their New York Times best seller Rosie Revere, Engineer. Readers get to see Rosie imagining and inventing all sorts of things! When her great-great-aunt comes for a visit and mentions her unfinished goal of being able to fly, Rosie sets out to make her great-great aunt’s dream a reality. When Rosie’s contraption crashes instead of flies Rosie sees her invention as a failure, but her great-great aunt insists Rosie’s invention was a huge success! A person only fails when they quit!
Iggy Peck, Architect
Written by Andrea Beaty
Illustrated by David Roberts
Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers
Iggy Peck is creative, independent, and enjoys expressing himself! It’s been this way since he was two! “He built churches and chapels from peaches and apples…” His parents continued to encourage his passion and support him, even when his second-grade teacher expressed her dislike for his architecture.
Beaty and Roberts deliver rhymes and illustrations that offer a charming story and hopeful tenor for children and parents alike.
The Dot
Written and Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Published by Candlewick Press
Initiating the first step can be the toughest part of any endeavor.
Vashti believes she can’t draw, but encouragement from her teacher to begin a single mark inspires her dot on the page and motivates another student to overcome his discouragement. Sometimes we can overthink things and allow perfectionism to impede our creative process.
Author Peter H. Reynolds demonstrates the importance of trusting in our abilities and allowing our creative process to take place.
Ish
Written and Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Published by Candlewick Press
Ramon always loved to draw until one day, his older brother Leon made a remark that left Ramon feeling badly about his drawing. “WHAT is THAT?” Leon said. Ramon’s little sister, Marisol, saw things different and helped open Ramon’s eyes to something far more valuable than getting things perfect.
Peter H. Reynolds illustrates the importance of nurturing our own creativity.
How to Catch a Star
Written and Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Published by Philomel Books
There was a little boy that was so amazed by the stars that he wanted to catch one and befriend it; but how could he make it happen? Could he climb the tallest tree, jump up and grab it, lasso it? Nothing seemed quite tall enough. Finally, just when he was ready to give up, he discovers that sometimes things don’t happen the way we expect them to…
Oliver Jeffers delivers hope and trust in our abilities to dream and make things happen.
Thanks for the Feedback, I Think
Best Me I Can Be
Written by Julia Cook
Illustrated by Kelsey De Weerd
Published by Boys Town Press
RJ enjoys blowing bubbles, playing soccer, and being with his friends. However, when he receives a compliment from some friends he isn’t sure how to respond. Later his teacher and his parents talk to him about certain things they would like him needs to work on. RJ’s first reaction is to argue and make excuses.
Author Julia Cook takes children on a meaningful journey and teaches them what it really means to be complimented and criticized, and how to digest and respond appropriately.
A Whistle for Willie
Written and Illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats
Published by Viking Books for Young Readers
Oh, how Peter wished he could whistle for his dog Willie! His desire to learn takes him on an exploration all around his neighborhood. Peter practices and practices some more… Will his persistence pay off?
Award-winning author Ezra Jack Keats does a wonderful job showing how we can be rewarded when we pair our desire with determination.
Emmanuel’s Dream: The true story of Emmanuel Ofosu
Written by Laurie Ann Thompson
Illustrated by Sean Qualls
Published by Schwartz & Wade
Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, Emmanuel was dismissed by many, but not his mother. His mother taught him to reach for his dreams. Each day Emmanuel would make the 4 miles round trip to school by hoping on one leg. He learned to play soccer and later became a cyclist. In 2001 he rode 400 miles across Ghana spreading his powerful message that disabilities do not define a person’s inabilities. This story of triumph over adversity story is nothing short of remarkable.
Salt in His Shoes Series
Written by Deloris Jordan, Roslyn M. Jordan, Introduction by Michael Jordan
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson & Barry Root
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Young Michael Jordan is smaller than the other players, but learns from lessons of his father that being taller isn’t everything. Determination and hard work matter more than size.
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
Written by Mark Pett & Gary Rubinstein
Illustrated by Mark Pett
Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Beatrice is a little girl who never makes a mistake. She seems perfectly-perfect! She turns in perfect homework assignments, makes her bed each morning, and takes care of her little brother and pet hamster. She even wins the juggling contest every year at the local talent competition! Something happens that changes everything. Beatrice makes a big mistake and loses the competition. What happens when Beatrice isn’t perfect anymore? Authors Pett & Rubinstein show us how life can be a little more fun when we worry a little less.
What do you do with an idea?
Written by Kobi Yamada
Illustrated by Mae Besom
Published by Compendium, Inc., Publishing & Communications
This New York Times Best Seller will inspire any child who ever had an idea! It’s a story about one brilliant idea and the child who nurtures it. As the child’s confidence grows, so does the idea! Then, one day, the child sees something wonderful beginning to happen!
What to do with a problem?
Written by Kobi Yamada
Illustrated by Mae Besom
Published by Compendium, Inc., Publishing & Communications
This New York Times best seller really transcends age! …What happens when we avoid a problem? This book how problems are not as bad at they might seem; and explains the worry problems can bring us when we don’t face them head on.
Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin
Written by Chieri Uegaki
Illustrated by Qin Leng
Published by Kids Can Press
Hana Hashimoto has signed up to play her violin at her school’s talent show. She has just begun to learn to play, but has taken only three lessons. Her brothers tell her she isn’t good enough to play at the show, “It’s a talent show, “ they tell her.
This story offers a unique perspective of a female protagonist. The authors have woven in lyrical scenes from Japan to add dimension to the story. The book beautifully written and is intended to foster hope and confidence in children who are hoping to master something challenging.
Nadia, the girl who couldn’t sit still
Written by Karlin Gray
Illustrated by Christine Davenier
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
This story is a beautiful reflection of Nadia Comaneci, an energetic and fearless young girl who went from climbing trees in the forests of Romania to tumbling her way into history at the 1976 Olympic Games. It was there she received seven stunning perfect scores in gymnastics. The book is Nadia’s journey from small-town girl to Olympic athlete and the plethora of imperfect moments that inspired her along the way.
Billy Knows a Secret
Written by James Minter
Illustrated by Helen Rushworth
Published by Minter Publishing Limited
Minter does a wonderful job demonstrating the burden some secrets can have on a child and the important role trusted adults play in a their life. It emphasizes the importance of trust and encourages children to take proactive initiative when they feel something isn’t quite right. Billy Knows a Secret is part of the Billy Books Series and comes with an activity book that reinforces learning. Minter introduces us to an endearing group of recurring characters including Billy Field, Eddy Jost, and Anthony “Ant” and Maxine Turner.
