Today is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere — as in the least amount of daylight. Historically, & even in contemporary culture, it is marked by candlelight, soothing rituals & cozying up for extra sleep.
For your family, your classroom or yourself, here are 3 of my fave kid books to snuggle up with on this particular day (or night by candlelight or fireside) to read together.
The Shortest Day (by Wendy Pfeffer) - Drawing from history, culture & science combined, this book & its colorful illustrations use lyrical language & inviting images to not only teach readers of all ages the facts, but to also embrace the emotional element of living through one day a year with limited daylight.
At the Same Moment Around the World (by Clotilde Perrin) - This book also harmonizes emotionality with the science & history of time: Using expansive illustrations, the story scrolls through one moment in time stretching across the globe, through all human ages & cultures & throughout every time zone & season, both dark & light.
What Was I Scared of? (by Dr. Seuss) - Children (& even grownups!) are often scared of the dark. While there are many modern books that can aid kids’ ability to process & normalize these feelings, Dr. Seuss’s classic does so with humor & glee. This glow-in-the-dark edition adds an element of fun as you explore what power we can have over the dark together.
If you enjoy this post, you may also like our Tuesday Tools message on Sunlight: https://open.substack.com/pub/buildbetterhumans/p/sunlight?r=18otdt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web