Favourite Children’s Picture Books We Read in November… Lightning Round 20/30

This month’s stack of stories felt wrapped in empathy—perhaps it’s the season, or perhaps it’s the way parenting keeps pulling us deeper into lessons of emotion, regulation, and grace. Our now four-year-old has stepped firmly out of the “trying threes,” and oh boy. Although he is wildly creative, wonderfully unique, and delightfully spirited, we’re still navigating the rough waters of emotional regulation. I, too, am learning—still practicing self-regulation, still surrendering my emotions to the Lord. As he discovers what it means to care, to wonder about the feelings of others, and to be gentle (even with our cat), books have become our quiet companions. In those quiet, bedtime moments, books help weave these life experiences into lasting lessons.

Boom Bah!

Phil Cummings/Nina Rycroft

10/20

This was actually an oldie that we read over and over to Arlo when he was around two. He loved the quiet intentionality of each sound on the page, as it gradually crescendoed to a grand finale. This book may be why he is always attuned to the quietest of sounds. It's a fun, simple and rhythmic book and reminds me that anything can create music, and evoke emotion.

Shhh! Listen! What’s that sound?

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Jane Yolen/Mark Teague

12/20

So, as a boy mom, we've went crazy on Hotwheels, are venturing deep into LEGOs, but only now, are finding all the dinosaurs, with their spikey spikes and pointy claws, all over the floor. This book is a little more on the curt side of telling a child how to be kind to his parents during the bedtime routine, using humour and rhetorical questioning. But it's been necessary for our 2-hour long nightly shenanigans. Also the detail in these dinosaurs is quite impressive! This book is also part of a series, with similar titles as How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Be Kind?

They tuck in their tails. They whisper, “Good night!”

Little Elliot Big City

Mike Curato

13/20

I absolutely loved the visuals in this book. We have yet to read other Little Elliot books, but it isn't everyday that a picture book is set in nostalgic 1930s New York. In this little polka dotted elephant's world, the city glows like an old photograph. Vintage cars humming, storefronts gleaming, and the quiet strength of art-deco skylines lingering at every street corner. All while this little guy learns about empathy, connection and the courage of being yourself, even when you feel small.

…until he saw someone even littler than himself, who had an even bigger problem.

Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats

Alicia Potter/Birgitta Sif

14/20

I love cats. And while our little furry one may not be the centre of attention these days, we have been trying to help Arlo practice kindness toward her. (Instead of screaming at the top of his lungs chasing her up the stairs). This sweet book highlights all the unwanted cats that are given away and sent to, basically, a cat orphanage. Here, they learn to be more cat-like, but when their teacher ends up in an accident, the fearful felines learn a lesson in courage through compassion.

“You’re as bold as lions!” Miss Hazeltine told her rescuers.

Wombat Said Come In

Carmen Agra Deedy/Brian Lies

15/20

While this story is familiar to another popular wombat forest fire book, this one incorporates such empathetic facial expressions in a little wombat. This book follows the selfless nature of a wombat allowing other animals into his home during a forest fire. What I love about this book is that there is a realness to showing too much empathy-as the wombat struggles with boundaries and begins to feel overwhelmed. In the end, he cracks from the pressure. When the fire is out, he abruptly asks them all to leave, except to show compassion for one friend with no place to call home.

I do have quite a few rooms, thought Wombat.

Hurricane

John Rocco

16/20

We seemed to be trending toward natural disaster books. While it can be exciting for a boy to read about hurricanes (the end covers have a scientific diagram to learn about them), this book truly highlights the community that comes together after the storm. After a boy's fishing dock is ruined, he helps out his neighbours with their rebuilding. When he assumes no one will help him, they all gather together to rebuild his dock, and enjoy it together.

But today feels different. The air is still, and the sound of hammering echoes down the street.

Billions of Bricks

Kurt Cyrus

17/20

This counting book made it to the top because of Arlo. He loves counting (he counts to 100 every time he poops), and getting to count bricks was a blast for him. Aside from the very intricate architectural illustrations, this book had cute rhyming prose. It was especially useful for introducing counting by times tables which was a plus!

Grand hotels. Wishing wells. Railroad yards. Boulevards. Fountains! Pools! Public schools!

Bothered by Bugs

Emily Gravett

18/20

Another silly yet heart-warming book by Emily Gravett. I honestly can't decide if this one is our new favourite, aside from Too Much Stuff! The forest animals are annoyed with all the bugs and decide to trap them in jars. But once they realize that their home isn't what it used to be, they realize their bug friends actually play an important role in forest life. Forgiveness and community all wrapped up in humour. Plus, there is a full page spread of a bunch of bugs that MUST be named, one by one.

“We are the wood’s biggest tidy-up crew. All of us ‘pests’ have a job that we do.”

A Mouthful of Minnows

John Hare

19/20

Whenever I come across a storybook that incorporates the unique features of one of God's creative creatures, it becomes a top choice. Especially when the author incorporates animal facts at the back for my little fact-lover. As we read this, I wasn't so sure this was a real turtle, but it is! This is a genuinely sweet book about a turtle looking for lunch, but has a change of heart, in an act of kindness over his own needs.

But fishing isn’t easy, and not all fish would fall for his trick.

A Dog Named Doug

Karma Wilson/Matt Myers

20/20

I end on a funny book because it is true to my boy's heart, and his laugh. While not necessarily a book celebrating empathy, it does ring true to embracing who you are with joy. The rhymes were silly and the illustrations were animated. I loved how the illustrator incorporated the use of words and letters in the pictures. Some of the bigger words were great as a sound out and read-along. Still, you have empathy for this dog who loves to dig when he is put out in the dog house.

Doug settled in to his cozy bed, with visions of marvelous holes in his head;

In the quiet rustle of each turning page, our little one's hearts learn to listen and to love. May each small book be a lantern, lighting the path toward empathy, understanding and compassion. Even after the final bedtime story fades.

I must say, we have already excitedly taken out several Christmas books! A light for the darkening days ahead.