There's something about spring in the air that gives me a greater appreciation for the community that I live in. It definitely might just be the fact that now that it's warmer I'm finally willing to leave my house and get outside, but I find happiness in being able to see everyone else out and about as well. I'm looking forward to spring days at the park, farmer's market, and hiking trails. It creates a sense of belonging where you live and reaching out to others to create that sense of belonging in them as well. All this to say, I've been reflecting on the value of community lately and decided to compile a list of my favorite books on the subject.
Written by Cynthia Harmony
Illustrated by Teresa Martínez
Penguin Workshop, 2022. Picture Book.
Penguin Workshop, 2022. Picture Book.
During her daily walk to her mother's flower shop, an earthquake hits a girl's city. She finds her mother and they begin to help others in their city, reuniting a dog with its owner. She passes neighbors that are all out helping each other as well. This story is based on the author's own experiences in Mexico City after an earthquake in 2017. This book is great for teaching the power of community and how people lift those around them up during tough times.
Written by Tammi Sauer
Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Union Square Kids, 2022. Picture Book.
In this updated version of Mary Had a Little Lamb, Mary sees an old abandoned lot filled with junk and decides to make it into a community area for those in her neighborhood. She spends the entire day cleaning and is dismayed to find that the area is still a mess. So she calls her friends Bo Peep, Jack and Jill, and other story book characters and they all work together to build a community spot with murals, lights, flower beds, and a free little library. The book ends with everyone in the community spending time together in the new lot. If you want to teach your kids the value of service and community gathering spaces, this book is a winner.
Written by Pat Brisson
Illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan
Tilbury House Publishers, 2022. Picture Book.
This book celebrates the community members that help us each day. Whether it's your hair stylist, crossing guard, doctor, or waiter, there are people all around us that help us everywhere we go. This book is a great way to introduce your children to community helpers.
By Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman
Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. Picture Book.
This book is a good primer in the power of community and that what makes us different also make us strong. It explains all of the ways that those in the community are there to help each other, from a smile, to a helping hand, to taking care of shared spaces. It ends by reminding the reader that there's space for everyone in your community. If you want a good basic introduction to teach a child what community is, this is a great choice.
Written by Bernette G. Ford
Illustrated by Frank Morrison
Holiday House, 2022. Picture Book.
This book is based on the author's own summer cultivating a plot of land in Brooklyn with her uncle during the 1950s and tells the story of three children visiting their uncle and helping him with his community garden. They spend the entire summer working on different plants but it all comes to an end with a community barbecue complete with succotash made from the plants they toiled over all summer. If you've ever felt the power of food bringing a community together, this book is for you.
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