One year ago tomorrow, on March 16, 2020 we closed our doors to shelter at home in the early days of the COVID-19 Pandemic. As we pass the one year mark of this on-going crisis many of us have been reflecting on all that has happened and all that's been lost in this past year. Thankfully, we have writers and poets and illustrators to help soothe some sorrows and bring hopeful smiles to our faces.
Here is a list of some of the stand out picture books featuring the new world we found ourselves thrown into last March. I recommend sharing these with the children in your life, but also if you are an adult who appreciates the kind of "warm hug" only a book can give you, don't hesitate to check one of these out!
Thankfully, our doors are open again and we can fill your trunks with library goodies during curbside pick ups each week. So, put one of these (or all of these!) on hold to pickup next time you visit the library.
"A story has a beginning and an end. There is a here. There is a there. And there is something in between." A great book for young children - I mean, what kid doesn't love rainbows?! The metaphor of the rainbow after the storm is used to help children navigate through the messy times in between and look towards a brighter tomorrow. A nice choice for children starting school again.
This book features a poem written by a Wisconsin native in the early days of the pandemic. The poem went viral online and is now accompanied by beautiful illustrations by Stefano Di Cristofaro and Paul Pereda. It's hopeful and sweet and seeks to emphasize healing through our shared experiences - alone, but together. A great read for all ages.
This book shows five children in different parts of the world as they stay home and look out to the world through their windows. The author's own experience of staying at home for months because of his son's Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is reflected through the book with love, hope, and humor. A lovely time capsule of our shared experiences in 2020.
"Something strange happened on an unremarkable day just before the season changed. Everyone who was outside went inside. Outside was quieter, wilder, and different. Inside we laughed, we cried, and we grew. We remembered to protect the ones we love and love the ones who protect us. While the world changed outside, we became stronger on the inside and believed that someday soon spring would come again." What more can I say?! Everyone should read this book by this remarkable and Caldecott honor wining author.
While We Can't Hug by Eoin McLaughlin
A tear jerker for everyone mourning the loss of countless hugs over the past year. This book has great kid appeal, featuring a friendship between an adorable hedgehog and tortoise. While the reason they need to stay apart is never stated, the pair find many ways to stay close like painting the same picture so that everyone would know they were friends - something many children living through quarantines can relate to.
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