It’s officially here, the holiday 2024 season! The -ber months can be a blur for many of us, especially with children to entertain through the holidays. But wait, what if I tell you YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT!
Some of you may have already jumped on the “I don’t entertain my children” bandwagon, but are you out there making “core memories” a lot? Yeah. It’s kind of the same thing, haha. Oftentimes we forget that being still & silent is part of living. These 3 books are a great reminder that there is a TIME FOR EVERYTHING. And I do not mean that with YOLO & FOMO vibes, but in the poetic sense of listening to the silence from time to time.
1. Some Days Are Yellow
Written by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Michelle Lee. Who knew a book of oposites could hold such universal truths? I loved Slade’s message from the first read. Lee’s illustrations bring her words to life. This book reminded me of the biblical passage in Eclesiastes 3: 1-8
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
That passage is stunning in its dichotomy/yin yan pattern. Most of us can relate. I’m sure The Byrds felt this pull when they composed the verses into their hit Turn! Turn! Turn!:
Slade echoes this sentiment of making room for the good & bad things in life, reminding us that we will encounter this contrast even within the same day. We must be prepared for the days that “take thinking” and those that “need heart.” The emotive illustrations especially help children relate to the frustrations & high emotions of certain days. We do not want to shun the negative feelings but rather feel them & appreciate the good parts in our days as well. Kudos to Slade for rhyming the text, making it very likeable for babies & toddlers, withot losing its poetic weight for older children.
Palabras para la traducción, que no rimara, pero sera fácil:
1. sporty/frilly – deportivos / con volantes/olanes
2. near/ apart – cercanos / apartados
3. tears – lagrimas
4. brave/ bring fears – valientes / traen miedos o espantos
2. Making Space
Written by Paola Quintavalle, ilustrated by Miguel Tanco. Italian & Spanish residents, this duo brings a tale of intention in a tiny tome that could be a sequel to Shel Silverstein in tone & drawings. Yellow is the monochromatic protagonist in Tanco’s version of what could have been Lee’s take for the title above. Quintavalle gives us a list of things to make time for: speding it with others, or doing self care. This book can certainly be like an intentional calendar, leaving the time we take to cross each item off the list to our discretion.
I loved that Making Space & Some Days Are Yellow both illustrate that things are transient & that some things are meant to be let go. I especially like the spread of a boy making space “for leaving,” and he is seen storming off with his ball, ha ha. Which of us did not do this as a child? Fed up with broken playground rules, or perhaps rules one did not understand or agree with. Oftentimes we want to mediate or solve inter-personal problems, but sometimes you do have to walk away, either momentarily or for good.
Vocabulario traducido:
1. stand up – defender
2. know – conocer (conoces, in this context)
3. passing by – ir de paso (los que van de paso in this context)
4. take a chance – arriesgarse
5. juggling – hacer malabarismos
3. Most of the Better Natural Things in the World
Solitude meets community in this relaxing read. The title features one natural formation per page, many of which we do not encounter in our everyday geography such as “atoll,” “chaparral,” & “estuary.” Chang’s spreads elevate Egger’s poignant text, immersing readers & transporting them along the white Tiger in diverse, expansive landscapes that transmit awe & appreciation for nature (& in turn the divine, research has shown). The book includes an informative glossary that describes each formation. Why is this white tiger treking a chair —of all things— accross the world? The answer is heartwarming.
La traducción sera difícil si no se buscan los términos antes de leer.
1. Fjord – fiordo
2. atoll – atolón
3. gulch – barranco
4. foothills – estribaciones
5. steppe – estepa
Therein concludes this spiritual reading journey! I hope you find time to slow down this busy season. Remember that children often cherish the moments in between GRAND experiences. They are wise in doing so. Just think of the times you ask them what their favorite part of a vacation was & they choose something as random as “Finding that bent Lego at the grocery store parking lot!” Routine can be magical if we do it with presence & intention. Take photos of your routines too! Routines are the ones you will cherish because they are repetitive enough to be stored in your memory but change often as children age.
Biblioterika 