Growing up is scary. Once you finally have a child settled
into a routine, changing that routine in any small way can be an ordeal. From
going to the doctor or even just sleeping in their own bed, there are a huge
amount of experiences that are new and scary for the little ones. Sometimes you
need a little help explaining what’s going on in a way that kids will understand.
Here are the top 10 books for introducing kids to new experiences and making
everything just a little less scary.
10. The Dark by
Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen.
Having kids that are afraid of the dark is nothing new. The
fear of the unknown can make even the most settled of children run into mum and
dad’s bed at night. This book is the perfect combination of beautiful
story-telling and illustration as it tells the tale of Laszlo, a little boy who
gets visited by the Dark and realises that, with the help of a night-light, the
Dark isn’t that scary after all.
9. The Scar by Charlotte Moundlic, illustrated by Olivier Tallec.
Now this one is a tough read. A
little boy wakes up to find his mother has died and the book explores how he
deals with his grief by shutting the windows to keep her smell in the house and
picking at a cut on his knee because it reminds him of the comforting embrace
of his mum. Although this book has the ability to make you well up even if
you’re not grieving, the fact that this book explains the loss of a parent
automatically makes children feel like they are not alone and that their
feelings are valid; something that is extremely important when it comes to such
difficult situations. And sometimes it’s important to cry and small children
need to know that it’s alright to do it. This book encompasses that perfectly.
8. And Tango Makes
Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell and illustrated by Henry Cole.
This is an absolutely lovely book and one which is sure to
become all the more important in Ireland as same-sex adoption becomes more the
norm. This is a book based on the true story of Roy and Silo, two male penguins
in New York’s Central Park Zoo who were different from the others but had the
same urges to have a family as the others. The zoo-keepers gave them an egg
which had been rejected by its mother and they raised it just as they would
have in a male/female scenario. This book is great for introducing kids to a
different kind of family or even preparing them for how some people might
perceive their own family structure. There are other books out there with human
characters but goodness knows kids react better to cute animals so you really
can’t go wrong!
Trying to explain the arrival of a
new baby to a small child is not easy. You can imagine that all they hear is
that mummy and daddy won’t have as much time to play because there will be a
new person in the house. That’s why books like this one are great. It answers
all the questions your little one might have about the new arrival but in a way
that makes it sound less daunting and maybe even exciting. It is particularly
helpful for only children as the idea of sharing everything with someone can be
a difficult one to master.
6. Going to the Doctor by Anne Civardi, illustrated by Stephen
Cartwright.
The Usborne First Experiences
series is a must have for explaining important concepts to children. Going to
the doctor is one which is particularly important to get right. It is vital
that kids know they can trust doctors and that they are there to help. The
doctor’s surgery can be a very daunting place with strange noises and smells
and new people; even just having a basic idea of what to expect can make the
visits run a lot smoother.
5. Topsy and Time Make a New Friend by Jean and Gareth Adamson.
Topsy and Tim are another staple
series that have excelled at introducing readers to a wide range of subjects.
In this book, there is a new kid in class and she’s in a wheelchair. The kids
learn how to be respectful but also realise that she is just like them and
wants to play. Seeing kids with different abilities can be a jarring scenario
and so preparing them for it can be a great help.
4. My Body Belongs to Me! By
Pro Familia, illustrated by Dagmar Geisler.
This book is a child-friendly approach to a very serious issue. Trying to
explain to children the diference between adult contact from a family member or
friend and that of a stranger can be a confusing concept for a young person to
understand. It is only recently that schools in Ireland have started teaching
the difference in class so that the information is out there. My Body Belongs
to Me! helps make this conversation
easier as it explains in simple terms what is alright and what is not and how
to tell someone if the worst happens.
3. The Black Book of Colors
by Menena Cottin, translated by Elisa Amado and illustrated by Rosana FarÃa.
This is one of my favourite children’s books of all time. A book completely
done in black, the illustrations are raised and the words are accompanied by a
braille translation to give sighted children an idea of how blind people
percieve the world. The text describes how blind people imagine colour to be
and what they associate them with instead of what they see. A must for children
who want to learn but also adults who can appriciate the beauty of the work.
2. My Brother Charlie by
Holly Robinson Peete.
As awareness of autism spreads, so too does the
need for information regarding the condition to reach children. My Brother
Charlie explains how it can be difficult taking care of Charlie sometimes but
that he is amazing in so many other ways, all from the point of view of his
sister. It gives us an insight into families who include people with autism but
also shows us that it is not a disablity to be autistic.
1. Two Homes by Claire Masurel, illustrated
by Kady MacDonald Denton
Divorce is not an easy thing at the best of times,
but it’s even more so when there are children involved. Two Homes manages to
look at a bright side and the story is told from the point-of-view of Alex, who
has two homes now but each is good for different reaons. He knows his parents
both still love him but that they don’t live together anymore. The does not
need to be any more detail in this book, it deliveres exactly what is needed
for the situation and helps kids to settle with the idea of a new family situation.
Did I miss any? Have any interesting stories of trying to explain the word to you little ones? Comment below!
