Children’s books are on sale these days, and while books that are entertaining are always fun, they don’t necessarily impart wisdom. however, these titles teach a good lesson that will help your child learn about self-acceptance, self-confidence, being generous, finding the silver lining, and overcoming fears. and we’ve included some fun activities you can do with your kids after reading these great books.
Make sure these 10 titles are in your child’s library.
You are reading: Books about keeping hands to self
lady shark (jess keating, illustrated by marta alvarez miguens)
do you know the name of eugenie clark? Also known as “the shark lady,” this scientist revolutionized the way we study and learn about sharks, and this is a fun illustrated take on her life. shark lady not only teaches little ones to follow their dreams despite obstacles, but she also teaches children to respect nature.
Spend time together doing this: After reading this book, your kids will no doubt have an insatiable thirst for all things shark. So make a fun shark hat out of construction paper or cardstock; it can be the face of a shark or just a scary fin. (wait, is it scary?)
this is how we do it (matt lamothe)
We all want our children to have compassion (wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all practiced more compassion?). In this great read, kids can explore a day in the life of children from seven different countries: Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia. Despite the fact that we may play different games or eat different types of food, in the end, we are all people trying to live our best lives. and this is how we do it illustrates that.
Spend time together doing this: Make a papier-mâché globe! Blow up a balloon, and then cover it with shredded newspaper that you’ve dipped in a mixture of glue and water. When it’s dry, pop the balloon and you’ll have a perfect sphere to paint and decorate!
have you filled a bucket today? (carol mccloud, illustrated by david messing)
the 10th anniversary edition of Have You Filled a Bucket Today? It launched last year, and it’s no surprise why: This continually popular title encourages kids to “fill their bucket” with acts of kindness. but what happens when you dip into that bucket with negativity? yes, the bucket runs out. instilling thoughtfulness and encouraging benevolence is at the core of this feel-good title.
Spend time together doing this: Have each family member make a bucket out of a Styrofoam cup and pipe cleaners for handles. display them in a common area of the house (like the kitchen), and as each person does something nice, you can write it down and add it to her bucket. At the end of the week, read about each person’s accomplishments in kindness.
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the darkest darkness (chris hadfield)
It may surprise you to know this, but Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield was afraid of the dark. How did this space explorer overcome fear of him? hadfield, in his down to earth and inspiring way, explains in the darkest of darkness how he overcame his insecurities and today he loves the dark more than anything else!
Spend time together doing this: Discuss your child’s fears and ways he can overcome them. Is your child afraid of monsters? maybe they need a “monster spray” (which is actually colored water in a spray bottle). fear of bad dreams? make a paper plate dream catcher to hang in her window. Help them overcome their fears of him, just like Chris did!
barnaby never forgets (pierre collet-derby, illustrated by pierre collet-derby)
barnaby always remembers the night of the ice cream and feeding the grasshoppers, but then, something escapes him. He can’t remember! And what he forgot is right under his nose! Barnaby Never Forgets is a fun little story that reminds us that no one is perfect, not even supermemorial barnaby! we all have things we are good at and things we are not so good at: no one is perfect and no one is the same. and that’s fine.
Spend time together doing this: Gather some old magazines and cut out different people’s eyes, noses, and mouths in the articles and ads. then create your “characters” from the probabilities and end up “building” new faces. In the end you will see that no two people are the same!
there, there (tim beiser, illustrated by bill slavin)
sometimes things are terrible, but for rabbit, everything is terrible. That is, until his friend the bear teaches him a valuable lesson about how to appreciate things using only an earthworm. and change his mood. use it there, there to teach your kids that even if things don’t always go your way, you still have a lot to be thankful for.
Spend time together doing this: Hang a string or piece of yarn, and each day ask your child to write something they are grateful for on a piece of paper paper, butterflies, whatever you choose). Attach them to the string, and at the end of the month, sit down and read aloud all the things he appreciates. Your children may be surprised to see all of your blessings!
the generous tree (shel silverstein)
“once upon a time there was a tree… and she loved a boy”. this line has been read to children for over five decades! While Giving Tree may not be a new title, it should be a staple in every child’s library. This classic story by Shel Silverstein tells the heartwarming story of a tree who loved a little boy, giving and giving until she couldn’t give anymore. imparts lessons in love and the ability to love.
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Spend time together doing this: Draw a brown tree trunk on a large sheet of paper and have your child(ren) make green handprints for the leaves. then write on each sheet things they could “give” to others (for example: hugs, smiles, compliments, and more).
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the boy who didn’t want to share (mike reiss)
Just about every parent has endured the battle of sharing with their little ones, and The Kid Who Won’t Share is an adorable book (with great illustrations) that explains what happened to the kid who didn’t want to share. in the end, it seems that it is better to share than not!
Spend time together doing this: Do a cooking activity together, like bake cookies, and ask your child to save some for himself and then pack up the rest to give to neighbors, teachers or your friends. when they see how pleased everyone is with their shared treats, hopefully they’ll understand the positive reaction to sharing.
beautiful oops (barney saltzberg)
beautiful ups is a beautiful interactive book. Ideal for younger children (but just as fun for preschoolers), the lesson here is: “When you think you’ve made a mistake, think of it as an opportunity to make something beautiful!” Whether it’s a smear of paint or a crumpled piece of paper, there is beauty in everything around us.
Spend time together doing this: Do some messy art (like paint splatter, sloppy paint stamping, or just scribbling on a page), then turn it on its side or upside down to see what could be. maybe that inkblot looks like a turtle on the beach, or that drop of paint is a beautiful falling rain. or tear up random pieces of paper and see what shapes they have to make them into something else.
drum dream girl (margarita engle, illustrated by rafael lopez)
Give your girl some girl power, and guys can also build confidence with this read. Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba’s traditional taboo against female percussionists, this book tells the story of a girl who loved playing the drums, but had to keep it a secret. in a world where only children could play the drum. drum dream girl will inspire and encourage kids to follow their dreams no matter what.
Spend time together doing this: Take a poster board and write “I am” on the top. then add different words (like “strong,” “fun,” “smart”), pictures, and anything else you can think of that will empower your child and build their confidence.
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