National Reading Month

March is National Reading Month and I had the privilege of talking with Nanny Miss Monique about some ways to celebrate and enjoy reading with the children in our care. Monique recommends reading one book a day, out loud to the children and being intentional about the subject matter. Finding titles that reflect your child’s current interests or challenges is the best way to build a love for literature, so we are doing just that! Feelings are always a big topic in early childhood, and with this list curated by Nanny Miss Monique, you will empower and enable your child(ren) to identify, express and understand their feelings a little better each day.

Nanny Miss Monique is a bibliophile and career nanny who curates diverse and inclusive children’s books.

Feelings: A peek-through book all about emotions geared to children ages 3-6.

Big Boys Cry: A father and son learn how to embrace their feelings, even the tough ones. This story imagines a world where boys are encouraged to be vulnerable and soft when necessary, dismantling the notion that “big boys don’t cry.”

Happy Right Now: A fun way to teach emotional intelligence, reminding children that it’s okay if you don’t feel happy at every moment.

I Am A Peaceful Goldfish is a book for teaching mindfulness through breathing techniques. Children can embody other living things while focusing on their breath and getting back to a peaceful place.

Listen

A clever book introducing mediation techniques prompts the reader to close their eyes and listen to the world around them in a more intentional way.

little BIG feelings

This book identifies and validates many feelings that children may experience, giving examples of their catalysts as well as tools to process those emotions.

Maps of My Emotions

In this picture book, emotions are the destinations all around an adventure map. Geared toward ages 5-8, this book may encourage children to explore their own emotional map.

Mindful Mr. Sloth

A sweet tale of two friends who move at different paces finding a way to slow down, breathe and be in the moment.

The Boy with Big, Big Feelings

This story follows a little boy who feels his feelings in a very big way, through a journey of acceptance that encourages children to embrace all their feelings instead of hiding them.

Max’s Box

A lesson in capacity, Max gets a box that should hold all of his feelings. While it does the job, the bigger the box becomes, the harder it is for Max to maneuver through life. He has to learn that controlling emotions doesn’t mean putting them away.