A Few Children’s Book Treasures For Sharing

Children’s books can be the most meaningful five minute reads, whether you have a child on your lap, you’re standing alone in the bookstore, or you’re reading to your grandchildren. Sometimes I walk away from a children’s book more inspired than I’ve been in three days time doing all the grown up stuff. Here are a few to inspire the way that you look at the world and the people around you.

1. The Bad Seed
by Jory John Illustrated by Pete Oswald

This book is so funny and heartwarming. This little “Bad Seed” is so relatable. I am a rule-follower by nature, but, since none of us are perfect, I share some of his struggles (like sometimes interrupting people or being late.) Whether you, too, identify with the “bad seed” or you know one (don’t we all?), this book lends a new perspective that can help us all be a little more gracious with ourselves and each other.
Spoiler: he’s not really that bad. He just had a little trauma and now he feels bad about himself. Until he decides not to any more. It’s like a personal journey of growth. Every day is a new chance! It’s an innovative, must read.
https://m.barnesandnoble.com/p/the-bad-seed-jory-john/1124860411/2661685945659

Also, did you know you find many books read aloud on YouTube? See this one here: https://youtu.be/uqsGoiz-ufg

2. The Good Egg
by Jory John Illustrated by Pete Oswald

Like it’s companion book, The Bad Seed, this story is about the “good one” who maybe needs to learn to have a little mercy with everyone, including g herself. It’s a fabulous book to remind ourselves that we do t need to be perfect or to try so hard sometime. Also, when others color or think outside of the box, or egg carton, that’s okay too. They aren’t always wrong, just as we aren’t always right. We learn a lot from each other when we can appreciate our different approaches and take off some of the pressure to be perfect. It’s a book about love and acceptance, even when you’re maybe a little type A.
Find it at your local library, or here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-good-egg-jory-john/1128680208

3. When I Pray For You
By Matthew Paul Turner

Get out the tissues when you read this one. Not only does it chronicle the growing years of a young daughter, it captures so perfectly the heart of a parent. We want the best for our children, even when we can’t always provide it ourselves. Our prayers are sometimes in response to the things that we might see as lacking in our own stories, or to fill in the cracks that we might not be able to reach. It’s beautiful and hopeful, a heartfelt prayer from a flawed parent (all of us!). It echoes our prayers for our children’s lives to have meaning and beauty and joy beyond what we could ever do for them ourselves 💕. This one also makes a great gift!!

Check it out here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-i-pray-for-you-matthew-paul-turner/1128751076

4. The Listening Walk
By Paul Showers Illustrated by Aliki

This is a bit of an older book that we found at the library, and it’s a great read about slowing down and listening. It’s a story about a little girl who goes outside for a walk with her quiet dad. (That’s a great teaching point for us overtalkers, right there!). They just listening to the world, the people and the things around him. It’s perfect reminder to help us all slow down and appreciate our surroundings. It will probably inspire you to go out for your own quiet walk. It’s a perfect time of year to do this, in the beauty of fall. Go listen to all the crunchy leaves, the geese flying overhead, and the the world enjoying the last of the fall harvest time before winter.

You can find the book at your local bookstore, online here https://www.amazon.com/Listening-Walk-Paul-Showers/dp/0064433226, or even check out a free reading right here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLs4r8lHUS

So that’s a small sliver of the books that my kids and I are loving right now. Let me know in the comments if you love them, too!