I’ve always loved the creativity, messages, and the extraordinary illustrations of Children’s books. When I go into a large bookstore, you will likely find me browsing the kids’ section before heading to Historical Fiction.

My granddaughter was honored at a baby shower, and the hostess asked everyone to bring a book for the baby. Picking one from hundreds was more difficult than deciding which flavor to choose at the ice cream store.

When my oldest son was little, he chose his bedtime book, and it was always The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. It was about a small house that loved everything about living in the country. He wasn’t the only one who loved the book; a first edition from 1942 is listed on Etsy for $8500.00.

In my career as a teacher and a mental health counselor, I read many children’s books to my students and clients. Somehow, the message adults needed to learn was clearly conveyed through children’s books.

Among my favorites was ‘Minou‘ by Mindy Bingham. This poignant tale follows a pampered Siamese cat who, after her owner’s passing, finds herself without a home or the survival skills to make it on her own.

She is rescued by another cat who teaches her the essentials of independence.  It’s a story that resonates with joy, freedom, and the confidence of self-sufficiency, as well as the value of friendship.

Another was The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. It tells of a tree that loved a little boy so much that during the boy’s life, the tree gave him apples, branches, and eventually its trunk so the boy could be happy. Giving the boy everything except the stump, the tree could only offer the boy, now an old man, something to rest against. It is a story of imbalanced love, givers and takers, and the simplicity of authentic love. Many individuals in relationships learned a lot from the tree and the boy.

Another favorite was Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss. It was hopeful and energetic and gave reasons why and how a person can be whoever and whatever they choose. We have the tools, the desires, and the smarts to make it happen. The rhyming words make you want to get going lickety-split.

I recently bought another excellent book, What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada. It is about a child with an idea. He is afraid to tell anyone about his idea, fearing rejection or embarrassment. The message is to honor ideas, not discount them—to support and bring them to life.

What are your picture book memories? On this special day, treat yourself to thirty minutes in the children’s section of the library. Priceless.

Until the next time: Live while you live