Covid 19, Coronavirus, has had us quarantined at home for 56 days now here in San Diego, California. It is surreal to say that.
We are normally a super active, busy, highly scheduled family. Even when we don’t have sport practices or games or lessons or playdates, we still seem to lean towards – “let’s go explore somewhere new” than we do “let’s relax at home.” This is by far the longest the kids and I have ever stayed at home.
Home we are though. I don’t talk much about my family here, but staying home and social distancing are incredibly important to me. My husband is in the US Public Health Service, my brother in law is a doctor, and my daughter and I both have weakened immune systems that put us in the more likely to suffer worse from Covid 19. Not overwhelming our health system and avoiding people like myself and my daughter and all of their grandparents getting this virus is something I am happy to stay home for.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy though.
My escape, my comfort, my go-to is always books. The right story can help us escape, make us feel a little better, a little less alone. So this is a list of books and some other bookish resources that I hope with help you achieve one of those goals. I hope they make staying at home just a little bit easier for you and your kids.
Children’s Books about Big Emotions
It’s not just my kids – adults are feeling all of the emotions right now too.
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
This is one of the sweetest books I have read in a long time. The overall message is sometimes all we really need is simply someone to listen.
I’m Sad
by Michael Ian Black
illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
I love the way this book discusses the feeling of sad. So often we tell kids to just ‘buck up’ or ‘you’re fine’ but in truth, we should be allowed to have all of our feelings. Sometimes you are sad and that’s okay for right now.
Mouse Was Mad
by Linda Urban
illustrated by Henry Cole
What is the best way to show your anger? Bear, hare, and bobcat have ideas but Mouse can’t find a method that works for him. Eventually he figures it out in his own way. A gentle, but emotion filled story about big emotions and how to handle them.
Storytime: Bad Day Storytime
Children’s Books about Home & Neighborhood
Dusk Explorers
by Lindsay Leslie
illustrated by Ellen Rooney
A neighborhood comes to life in the evening with simple games and friends playing. Obviously you can’t run around your block with friends right now, but you can get outside and enjoy the timeless play ideas in this book. This reminded me of my childhood and will hopefully spark some new ideas for your kids.
In Every House, on Every Street
by Jess Hitchman
illustrated by Lili La Baleine
Okay, first I love the illustrations in this book. I was in love from the end papers. But the words are just as lovely. Have you ever wondered what goes on in someone else’s house? Sure everyone eats and sleeps and baths…but we’re all different. This is a peek inside one house. One busy, loving, playful family. At the end though, it leaves you to wonder and talk about how is their family like the others on their block and yours? The last spread to me is everything. A warm, delightful book full of energy and openness. The kind of book that makes the world a little bit better.
Windows
by Julia Denos
illustrated by E. B. Goodale
A stunningly illustrated book about an evening walk around a neighborhood. Sound like something you might be doing tonight? I love the glimpses inside different houses as the warm glow lights from within. It is a simple, beautiful, and oh-so-relatable book for our current times.
Storytime: Preschool Family Storytime, Home Sweet Home Storytime
Activities: Book Inspired Activities for Preschoolers about Family
Walk Ideas: 12 Children’s Book Inspired Walks and Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
Children’s Books about Playing at Home
We are spending a LOT of time at home. Fortunately, there are many wonderful children’s books about simple joys and playing at home. Perhaps some of these will spark a new idea for play at your home.
National Regular Average Day
by Lisa Katzenberger
illustrated by Barbara Bakos
If anyone feels like EVERY day feels ordinary (dare I say boring) right now, this book is for you. A little boy is bored so he decides to celebrate a different holiday every day. His realization at the end is wonderful and something every kid needs to be reminded right now. In between, the energetic words, cheerful pictures and the character’s emotions are incredibly relatable to our current situation. Obviously it wasn’t because books take years to be published, but this feels like it could have been written specifically for our current situation.
In the Rain
by Elizabeth Spurr
illustrated by Manelle Oliphant
This sweet little book is perfect in the way it captures the every day. I also love the illustrations, the simplicity of a magical moment in the rain, and the introduction to great vocabulary.
Bigger! Bigger!
by Leslie Patricelli
This adorable book is technically a picture book, but is perfect for the board book crowd. It has very few words and they are often repetitive. It follows a little girl building and imagining. The story is cute and relate-able for toddlers. Leslie Patricelli has many wonderful books, including two others in this series, to also read with toddlers if you haven’t already.
Another
by Christian Robinson
Sly, playful, creative. Carefully crafted, this wordless book makes you wonder and begs you to turn the page as you follow a little girl and her cat. Full of imagination and adventure and just a touch of humor. This is unlike anything you’ve read before and is so much fun.
Hurry Up!: A Book about Slowing Down
by Kate Dopirak
illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
If this felt timely when it was written, and I’m sure it did, it has even grown even more so with the pandemic. This is a discussion about our society’s urge to constantly hurry up and a little encouragement to slow down. With brief text that lends itself well to being read aloud and bright, cheerful illustrations this is a great one for story times or read together at home. I love the way it celebrates the things you see and notice when you slow down a little. A book for now definitely, but a good reminder to carry into the world as we start to feel compelled to hurry up again as well.
Poetree
by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds
illustrations by Shahrzad Maydani
This is a such a lovely book for poetry lovers. Or introduction to poetry for those not yet in love. A little girl writes a poem and gives it to the tree. The tree writes back. Small poems are shared throughout this gentle story about a girl, believing, creativity and friendship.
Activities Ideas for Home:
- 30+ Morning Invitation Ideas
- Read, Wonder, and Learn! Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere from Kate Messner
- Play and Count with Farm Animals
- Exploring Books Through Play
Children’s Books about Feeling Bored or Impatient
Although my kids aren’t allowed to say “bored” or they get assigned chores we have definitely had some bored moments. I think we can all identify with feeling impatient at times right now as well. Here are some fun books that reflect these feelings.
The Very Impatient Caterpillar
by Ross Burach
This book is laugh out loud funny and also happens to impart knowledge about metamorphosis. This is a book about a caterpillar going through metamorphosis and about the great amount of patience that requires. The perfect addition to a spring time caterpillar or butterfly story time or unit. A read aloud must!
Waiting is Not Easy
by Mo Willems
If you have not read from Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie series you are missing out. Seriously. He perfectly captures the simple delights and hardships of childhood with these sweet hilarious books. The difficulty of waiting is the topic of this latest addition. Piggie has a surprise for his friend, Gerald. It is big. It is pretty. BUT, they have to wait. Gerald tries, but waiting is very hard. Every child and most adults can relate to this hysterically depicted impatience. In the end though, everyone realizes that somethings are truly worth the wait.
Children’s Books about Missing People
Missing friends is what my social butterfly kid is struggling with more than anything else right now. We’ve dealt with this before because of how frequently we have moved away from loved ones, but that doesn’t really make this any easier.
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
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You may have heard of this bestselling children’s book before. It is an excellent story for addressing a range of issues including divorce, death, and fear of separation. The story about how you are always connected to those you love is also great for moving. One of children’s biggest concerns when they are getting ready to move is their friends. This illustration of how love and friendship are stronger than space, time, or anything else will be comforting to kids worried or upset about moving away from family and friends. 4+
Activity Ideas:
- Fun Games to Play with Kids on Zoom Video Chat from And Next Come L
- 8 Ways for Kids to Connect Online from Happiness is Here
- 10 Zoom Birthday Party Game Ideas to Play with Friends from ShawnMHowell
Children’s Books about Being Sick, Doctors and Nurses and other Every Day Heros
Some kids might not be aware of this aspect of the Covid 19 crisis, but for kids who are or have loved ones heading out the door every day and want to learn more, here are a few books about everyday heroes in our world.
Keeping the City Going
by Brian Floca
A timely and beautiful tribute to the people keeping our world running during the pandemic. Set in New York City, this looks at the bus drivers and grocery store workers, electrical workers and delivery people, the nurses and doctors who all still work to keep the city going. With Brian Floca’s gorgeous illustrations this book shows the city quieter than usual, people masked up in various professions, and the children framed by the windows of their apartments adapting to life. I love that the end mentions how New Yorkers applauded these workers each night. I’ve seen several books inspired by the pandemic, but this one is by far my favorite so far.
Trash Town
Written by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha
Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
This fun book is the featured book for this week’s Virtual Book Club for kids. You will never look at the garbage truck and his garbage collectors the same after you read this cheerful, colorful book. In part because your kids will want to read it again and again.
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do
Written by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook
Illustrated by Andy Robert Davies
This is a fun book that encourages kids to participate. Each page has clothes hanging out to dry and the reader is invited to figure out what occupation they belong to before they turn the page. My kids love figuring this one out and I love the variety of jobs and the sweet illustrations. Whose Hat is This? is a good older alternative if you can’t find this one.
Booklist: 5 Children’s Books about Doctors and Nurses from Pragmatic Mom
Children’s Books that will transport you somewhere else
And then, lastly, for those of you that are eager to get back out in the world here are some books to transport you somewhere else.
Booklist: Travel around the World with Children’s Books
Booklist: Children’s Books that will take you on an Adventure
Booklist: Children’s Books about Astronauts and Outerspace
I wish I could do more to help you and your kiddos during this time. If there’s something you’d love to see more of or ideas for areas or age groups or whatever where you feel stuck please comment below!
Stay well!
