My younger cousins and I have a tradition. Whenever I go to their house for Shabbos, I bring along a stack of picture books from the library to read with them. Everyone (especially me) looks forward to cozying on the couch and looking through the books I brought. It’s a simple way to connect with my cousins who are a lot younger than me and spend some quality time.
Here are some of the books we enjoy:
Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen. A father and child go owling one winter’s night. You can almost hear the crunch crunch of the snow.
Mirette on the High Wire, by Emily Arnold McCully. A young girl learns to walk a tightrope and helps her teacher overcome his fear of falling.
Unspoken: A Story From the Underground Railroad, by Henry Cole. We “read” this wordless book over and over. It’s a very sweet story of a girl who discovers and helps an escaped slave hiding on her family’s farm on the way to freedom.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, by Mordecai Gerstein. Another Caldecott winner, this is a book about the feat of Philippe Petit, who walked a tightrope strung between the Twin Towers when they were under construction. The book’s ending is especially poignant for those of us who remember the events of 9/11.
The Girl and the Bicycle, by Mark Pett. This wordless book about hard work and sharing is so sweet.
Mailing May, by Michael O. Tunnell. This gorgeously illustrated story is about a little girl whose parents find an ingenious way to send her to visit her grandmother across the mountains of Idaho. Based on a true story, the book includes photos of the real “May.”
We Are in a Book!, by Mo Willems. This book makes them laugh every time. It is so clever. Mo Willems is just the best.
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes. I’ve loved this book ever since my teacher read it to my class in first grade. It’s a relatable story about a teacher-student relationship.
We haven’t gotten to this one yet, but I’m hoping to:
A Chair For My Mother, by Vera B. Williams. A touching story about a girl who helps save money to buy an armchair for her mother after the family loses their belongings in a fire.
Do you have favorite picture books? How about personal traditions?
