Children’s Book Corner is a column suggesting children’s books from a mother of 11 children, who has also explored writing for children. Today’s column highlights fun children’s book reads for September that will hopefully keep your young reader reading!

By Pamela Tuck

Well, the time has come . . . school is in! While some parents express sighs of relief, others may have sighs of dismay. Not only because of all the seemingly endless piles of papers to sign, agendas to initial, laptop fees to pay, lunch accounts to reload, refrigerators and snack bins to fill (believe me, I understand, because these tasks are usually times 7 for me) but . . .

. . . because of the separation anxiety, peer-pressure, and the “I don’t have any friends” feedback that usually filters in with all those tedious papers to read after the first day of school.

It doesn’t matter how old or young your child is, they all could use boosts of confidence, listening ears, warm hugs, and a nice batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies with a tall glass of ice-cold milk at the end of the day.

I don’t know about you, but I wanted my children’s first day of school to be awesome! And it was, for the most part. The one problem I faced was dealing with my youngest child, my 7-year-old daughter’s 2^nd grade battle. You see, not only did she have to start going to a new school this year, because our school board made some changes with zoning areas, but she also had to adjust to not seeing me every day, because I work at her former elementary school. The good news is that her new school has a fantastic principal and teachers who are very attentive to her needs. But in the meantime, I had to pull some resources to use at home to help her face her fears and ensure the awesome school year I’m determined to make happen for her.

Even if you don’t have a little one battling school-day dramas, we all face things in life that may make us want to stay curled up under our sheets and hope the “bus” just happens to leave us behind. With that being said, this first book recommendation is for the little child and the big child in us who need that extra inner pep-rally that convinces us that we can do it.

Drumroll please . . .

Tomorrow, I’ll Be Brave
Written & Illustrated by Jessica Hische

This book is recommended for grades Pre-K through 2.

This New York Times bestselling picture book is a lovely lyrical bedtime story that is destined to become a classic in most households. The book is an excellent confidence booster, as it encourages us to be adventurous, strong, smart, curious, creative, confident, and brave. It helps readers embrace the idea that it’s fine to be scared, but to try their best, and that they’ll have tomorrow to try again.

If you have an older child who’s also going through a few school-day dramas, or may be struggling with building good character traits, then this next book recommendation is for you.

Drumroll two please . . .

RESTART
Written by Gordon Korman

 This book is recommended for grades 3 through 8.

This is an excellent book that demonstrates the ability to make changes for the better. Oftentimes, preteens and teens get wrapped up in who they are expected to be, even it that image is totally “not them”. Sometimes they feel trapped in these identity games, but RESTART is a book that reveals the empowerment of acknowledging who you are and who you’d like to become. This story is about a boy named Chase who’s been a bully and hanging out with the wrong friends, and how he gets a new start after losing his memory from a fall from the roof. Chase has to make some hard decisions regarding some past mistakes, as he decides who he really wants to be in the future.

Hopefully these suggestions will help encourage and build confidence in your children as they face each new day of school and life . . . and as always . . . keep you and your child reading!

Categories: Art & Entertainment, Books