Big Dreams from Little Voices: Books for Your Kids' 2025 “Resolutions”
January has arrived and along with it the traditional question of how we want the new year to look and what we aspire towards in 2025. Many of us have resolutions pertaining to our kids and parenting. Maybe we want to work on being patient with them, or help them work on their patience. Maybe we want to save money or set aside time to plan a bigger trip or experience. No matter your situation, you likely have something you want to do “better.”
My son’s preschool had the kids all share what they want to do more of in the new year. Unlike us adults who are often setting productive goals, these little ones answered with the things they loved that they want to do more of. I think we can all take a page out of their book! So, inspired by these kiddos’ replies, here are some books for the kids who want to do more of something they love.
One of the first “resolutions” that jumped out was simply “draw more!”
Here are two books that celebrate the wins and the woes of drawing and creating art.
Beautiful Oops reminds us that mistakes, even a torn paper, can still be beautiful and part of the creative process.
Harold and the Purple Crayon shows us how far one crayon and our imaginations can take us
For the kid who wants to “have a sleepover” this year:
Lola Sleeps Over will remind you of the excitement of early sleepovers, which are often with cousins and family members. Kids can start to prepare for what a sleepover would be like!
Sleepy Sheepy and the Sheepover features those feelings of homesickness you can have when you’re not used to being away overnight. This cute little sheep is nervous but open to possibilities of sleepover fun!
My son said “try new foods” was his resolution for the new year:
Food Truck Fest is a dazzling book that shows food trucks serving many different types of cuisines. They set up for a big day of feeding many hungry people! This could get your kids excited about a similar situation (food trucks, food halls, etc.), or, if you don’t have access to something like that, the kids can get an idea of a new food they might be interested in seeking out.
Little Dumplings celebrates dumplings from many cultures! A lot of readers will see their own culture represented here and all can learn about a new one. Dumplings are kid-friendly and a great way to introduce your kid to a new cuisine in a familiar package.
For the kid who wants to bake or cook this year:
Stir Crack Whisk Bake is one you can interact with– pretend cracking eggs and putting on sprinkles, for example. It will give them an idea of how baking works in a hands-on way!
Pancakes for Breakfast is a unique book with no words. A woman wants to make pancakes, but obstacles keep coming up. See if you kid can help narrate the story based on photos! Art is by the author of many classic kids books, Tomie DePaola.
For the kid who wants to plant a garden (and eat what they grow):
Green Start and Logan's Greenhouse are both wonderful books that will get kids thinking about what they may like to plant in a garden.
For the kid who wants to visit an art museum:
A lot of kids have visited children’s museums and science museums, but some kids are ready to visit art museums as well! These reads can get them excited about the kind of art they might encounter at these more “grown up” museums.
Love has some cut-outs making it toddler-friendly, while My Art Book of Happiness connects emotions to art! Nature: Early Learning at the Museum presents classic art to kids in the form of objects they know.
Try it at home! Ask your kids what they want to do more of in the new year? Their answer could surprise you, or even affirm that you’re already doing plenty of what they love 🙂 Let me know how it goes at laurenreadsitall@gmail.com.
Happy New Year!
Lauren
