Welcome to the 2026 PICTURE BOOK CLUB – WEEK NINE
How to participate in Picture Book Club …
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Get the suggested books from the library or bookstore (local or online). See 2026 PICTURE BOOK CLUB: COMPLETE LIST OF BOOKS for the list of books suggested for each week.
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Before reading each of the weekly books to your child, READ FIRST “Things to Think About.”
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Read one or both books to your child as many times through the week as your child wants to hear them and you have time to read.
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Consider doing whatever activities you think are appropriate for the age and maturity of your child from “Making the Story Come Alive.”
WE WELCOME FEEDBACK ABOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION. YOU CAN LEAVE A COMMENT BY USING THE “WHAT DO YOU THINK?” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST.
WILLOW THE ARMADILLO by Marilou Reeder
(a book about helping others)
Willow loved picture books. She dreamed of being the heroine in her own book. Her parents cautioned her that her dream was a long shot. Nonetheless, she took classes. She was turned away from hero tryouts, one after another after another. One day she rolled into the Library where she hoped to feel better. But suddenly all the lights went out. The customers were in a panic. Willow took her personal book light, gathered everyone together, and read them stories until the lights were restored. The listeners were so thankful they made Willow her very own book. For Willow being a real-life heroine topped everything.
Things to Think About
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Heroes and heroines often risk themselves to help others. They have strong
empathy for others. Empathy is understanding and sharing the feelings of another person. Children learn to show empathy the same way they learn so many other things—by practicing.
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Children don’t get much practice being “caregivers” in today’s world. We aren’t as quick as in days gone by to give kids responsibility for younger brothers and sisters. And, boys especially don’t get much chance to be caregivers because too often adults do not encourage them to play with toys like dolls, cooking, housekeeping tools, etc.
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However, taking care of pets is another way that kids can be caretakers. You can help them develop empathy by asking them what they think the pet needs, the pet wants, and would make the pet feel good. You can also point out that these same things are important for people. People also need someone to know what they need and want to make them feel better.
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Empathy leads to a child having higher self-esteem, being more respectful of others, and treating others more fairly. Bullies do not have much empathy. Therefore, a child who develops empathy will less likely use bullying behavior.
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It is important for kids to learn to feel what other kids feel. If others are sad – to feel sad that they are sad. If others are mad or afraid – to understand that they have important reasons to be mad or afraid. If others are happy – to be happy that they are happy. Some ways children can learn to feel what others feel (empathy):
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Talk about their own feelings.
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Learn the names of feelings and be able to name what they feel and what they think others are feeling.
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Talk about what they think others are feeling – TV characters, brothers and sisters, Mom and Dad, kids at school, or kids they see on the playground.
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Finding ways (volunteering, donating, spreading the word, etc.) to support the “causes” that are important to your children (recycling, kindness to animals, supporting their school, etc.) will help teach your children that helping others is a good thing, that it feels good to do so, and that there are many ways to offer help, no matter what your age, abilities, or available money
Making the Story Come Alive
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Have your child make up a story in which she is the heroine. Was it fun to think of herself as strong and powerful? Who was your heroine helping in your story?
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Have your child draw or paint a picture of herself as a heroine.
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If you had a hero or heroine that you admired when you were young, explain to your child who that was and why you admired that person.
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Describe to your child a real-life situation in which a person protected and cared for others.
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Make donation money be your gift to your child for a special occasion and have him decide what cause to donate to. Have him explain his choice.
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Go to the park or some other place where children play. Talk with your child about how other children you see there might be feeling. Ask him if there is a way he might be able to help anyone who looks like he is feeling bad. For example, if a child falls down, your child could offer a bandage. If a child is sad that he has no playmate, your child could offer to play. If a child is upset that he sees others having snacks and he has none, your child could offer to share.
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Use feeling faces to teach your child to recognize, name, and talk about her feelings. Search the Internet for “feelings faces games.” Either purchase a game, use one available online, or get ideas about how to make a homemade version. Play it with your child. Ask your child what feeling would go with each face. Tell stories about why a person might look (or feel) that way.
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Make a feeling face for your child. Have him make the opposite feeling face. You can do it live face–to-face, or you can do it as a drawing game. For example, you can make a crying face, and he might come back with a laughing face. You might make an angry face, and he might make a kissy face. This is a way for him to learn about different feelings that others might be feeling – in other words, he is learning about empathy.
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Read a story to your child. Name the feelings in the story. When she can name their feelings:
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She begins to understand that everyone has feelings.
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She sees that feelings come, and they go.
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She feels more in control of her own feelings.
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She learns to care about how others feel—which is the beginning of having empathy and compassion, the characteristics of a hero or heroine.
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Let your child help you comfort someone (visiting, delivering a dinner, offering to pick up groceries, etc.) Afterwards, ask your child what it was like for her to help comfort someone. Share what it was like for you.
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MOM, IT’S MY FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN! by Hyewon Yum
(a story about a worried Mom and her worried son)
In MOM, IT’S MY FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN, Mom worried about her son having enough food and school supplies and being late. Her son reassured her that everything was fine. When her son arrived at his classroom door, suddenly he wasn’t sure he was ready after all. Mom reassured him. He hugs and kisses Mom good-bye and decides, “Kindergarten is awesome.”
Things to Think About
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It’s OK for adults to be happy about the start of school. Childcare, housework, and office work can be easier to manage and maybe there can be some extra me-time too.
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It’s OK for adults to be sad about the start of school. You may miss your child, especially if he is going to school for the first time. If you are super sad find a friend to talk to about it and be sure you don’t talk about your sadness to your child in a way that may leave him feeling responsible – like he could make you happy if he stayed home.
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It is possible to feel two ways at one time. A child can feel excited, grown-up, and ready for school some of the time and very unsure of himself at other times. Bravely moving forward can prove to him that he is indeed ready. Also, it can help when adults and friends reassure him as well.
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Remember that school is your child’s experience. Be careful about how many and what
kinds of questions you ask. Ask about what you need to know but be specific. “Did you have the right supplies?” is much better than a great big question like, “How was school today?” -
Accept “Fine” or “OK” as an answer when asking about school. If your child doesn’t give details, let it go. Just be sure he knows you are available to talk about anything anytime.
Making the Story Come Alive
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Ask your child what he hopes school will be like? Does he think it will live up to his hopes? If not, what does he think it will really be like?
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Tell your child that you will miss her while she is at school. Also explain how you will handle missing her – maybe you plan something special for when you get back together, play some music that makes you think of her, or imagine that big bear hug you’re going to give her when you see her.
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Ask your child if there are things he will miss while he is at school? What does he think will help him with those feelings?
Picture Book Parenting 