Comforting Books for Uncertain Times

Do you feel it?  We feel it; everything is hard right now.  Normal life has been disrupted for so long and this new reality of ours doesn't seem to be getting any easier.  You may or may not be working, you may not know when or how your child will be going back to school, and the possibility of the virus resurfacing is a constant.  

Kids are most likely experiencing the same feelings of anxiety and uncertainty despite our best efforts at maintaining a positive environment.  We as adults may not have all the answers, but we can be there to provide our children with a sense of hope and stability.  And If you don't always know what to say --that's ok! Sometimes reading a book together can help you reconnect with your child, or start a conversation about his or her feelings. And it just might make you feel better, too. Here's some book ideas that may help:

Here and Now by Julia Denos, Illustrated by E.B. Goodale
Take a moment to just be.  Try to forget all of the things that are troubling or worrying and work on developing resilience with your child.  This book helps you and your little one take joy in the present.


The Sun Shines Everywhere by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Luciano Lorenzo
A peppy little book with vibrant pictures and upbeat lyrical text.  Children all over the world experience an idyllic sunny day.  A feel good book when you need some happy energy!


You Hold Me Up=Ki kîhcêyimin mâna by Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Danielle Daniel.  Written in English and Plains Cree, this book is tells a simple but powerful narrative about family relationships and respecting the youngest in our community.  Start reading for the beautiful writing and illustrations, and stay to learn a bit about how the indigenous people of Canada have carried on despite generations of hardship


I Am Peace by Susan Verde
"Breathe, taste, smell, touch, and be present. Perfect for the classroom or for bedtime, Susan Verde's gentle, concrete narration and Peter H. Reynolds's expressive watercolor illustrations bring the tenets of mindfulness to a kid-friendly level."

Where Happiness Begins by Eva Eland
Happiness is a character which comes and goes, and is sometimes hard to find, but frequently it begins with your family and friends, and it can lead you home.