4 Children’s Books That Keep Giving Beyond Storytime

It’s Children’s Book Week. To celebrate, I thought I would share with you 4 children’s books that I regularly read to my son and daughter (and the messages that I have taken from them). There is something special in the repetition of reading a favourite story every night – parents you know what I am talking about!

Reading to your kids is one of the simple pleasures in life. There is nothing quite like that well spent 15 minutes, to relax, read, and give your children a hug and a kiss before they drift off to sleep. It is mindfulness in its purest form.

On reflection, I believe that in addition to the precious time spent with my children, I have also gained something unexpected. I have been able to think about, and ingrain, some very simple messages and behaviours that I use daily; to both help my team and to improve the service we offer our clients. Here is what I mean…..

“Giraffes Can’t Dance”
by Giles Andreae illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees

The story of a clumsy giraffe. Gerald is chastised by his peers and sent away in embarrassment because of his physical differences (gangly feet). Dejected, Gerald leaves the dance upset with his confidence shattered. He then meets a cricket who believes in him and gives him the confidence to look for and realise his strengths in other areas.

The Message: We can’t be great at everything but we can open our hearts and minds to the tune of our own personal song. When we find our own rhythm we can perform at our best and we might just find that we are great at that something after all.

“I am Henry Finch”
by Alexis Deacon illustrated by Viviane Schwartz

The story is about Henry Finch. A bird who strives to be great. Henry Finch takes risks and does what other birds only dream of. He inspires other finches to do the same thing. The greatness and uniqueness of everyone is conveyed through everything about this book right down to the clever use of unique fingerprints to draw each bird.
The Message- Think about risks with an open mind. It is sometimes the most basic ideas and risks that, when acted on, will instil belief in yourself and others. Be prepared to speak up and offer solutions to problems. Inspire others!

“Sugarlump and the Unicorn”
by Julia Donaldson illustrated by Lydia Monks

The story of a horse that thinks the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. After starting off as a rocking horse, Sugarlump wishes to be someone else. She makes friends with a magic unicorn who grants her every wish. As the story progresses we see her trotting on a farm, galloping around a racetrack and dancing in a circus. Sugarlump then realises that what she wanted all along was what she had in the first place, to be with children.

The Message: We can spend our life searching for the perfect world. In the end what you find will not be perfection. Happiness comes from an inner gift to view the world in a certain way, not from the external. Always be careful what you wish for.

“Oh the places you’ll go”
By Doctor Suess

This has to be my favourite children’s book of all time. The journey of life, the decisions, the independence and all the ups and downs that go with it. Dr Suess leaves town embarking on an adventure out into the wide world. He travels far and wide making decisions and moving forward. Then he stops; at the waiting place, confused, procrastinating on where to go next. Dr Suess doesn’t disappoint. He once again keeps moving and instils a belief that we can all keep moving forward no matter who we are.

The Message: We don’t always make the right decisions, but you need to have the confidence to keep moving forward. Nobody gets it right 100% of the time. Your opportunities lie ahead of you. There will be times of challenge and many obstacles you will need to navigate around; do it with confidence.

Have you read a children’s storybook recently that has given you a gift beyond the telling?

I’d love to hear what that message was below.