Reading as a Resource for Facilitating Discussion

Between school closures, learning remotely from home, not being able to see friends and the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, children are likely feeling very overwhelmed these days. Turning to books is an excellent way to spend quality time with children, improve communication skills, and help caregivers facilitate dialogue to acknowledge feelings, worries or concerns children may have. We’ve put together a list of books pertinent to current events, as well as online story times for children to enjoy and connect with others.

• “The Invisible String offers a very simple approach to overcoming loneliness, separation, or loss with an imaginative twist that children easily understand and embrace, and delivers a particularly compelling message in today’s uncertain times.”
• “Breathe Like a Bear is a beautifully illustrated collection of mindfulness exercises designed to teach kids techniques for managing their bodies, breath, and emotions.”
• “Good Night Yoga tells the story of the natural world as it closes down for the night. Readers learn techniques for self-soothing, relaxing the body and mind, focusing attention, and other skills that will support restful sleep and improve overall confidence and well-being

Online Story Times

• For those who remember Reading Rainbow fondly, LeVar Burton is going live on Twitter and reading children’s books every Monday morning, as well as something for the grown-ups on Friday evenings!
• San Jose’s children’s bookstore, Hicklebee’s is hosting toddler story time on their Facebook page.
• Author of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Kennedy Center “Artist-in-Residence at Home”, Mo Willems, invites children into his home studio for Lunch Doodles to “explore ways of writing and making”. Afterwards, encourage children to write their own story from the doodle they’ve made!
• The San Francisco Public Library is hosting Sweet Stories with SFPL Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2pm and Saturdays at 10am