Little Kids, Big Emotions: Enthusiasm
There are so many emotions and happy, sad, mad, and shy, I thought it might be fun to look at something a little more difficult to explain, but an emotion that kids feel all the time – enthusiasm/excitement for things they love! Many kids go through the “why?” phase, others become passionate about dinosaurs (and can usually pronounce the names better than any adult!), while others love to dance, or read, or just get stuck on that one thing almost exclusively.
Today’s book list, while more difficult to create focuses on that passion for something whether it’s science or reptiles, music or dance. I think it’s important for kids to not only try new things, but to also help them to develop their passion for things that interest them!
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Little Kids, Big Emotions: Enthusiasm
Cece Loves Science by Kimberly Derting and Shelli R. Johannes, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
Cece’s parents say she was born curious. She asks: Why? How? What if? When her teacher, Ms. Curie, assigns a science project, Cece knows just what to ask—do dogs eat vegetables? She teams up with her best friend, Isaac, and her dog, Einstein, to discover the answer. They investigate, research, collect data, and analyze, using Einstein as their case study. Their final conclusion is surprising, and a lot of fun!
Count On Me by Miguel Tanco
Everyone has a passion. For some, it’s music. For others, it’s art. For our heroine, it’s math. When she looks around the world, she sees math in all the beautiful things: the concentric circles a stone makes in a lake, the curve of a slide, the geometric shapes in the playground. Others don’t understand her passion, but she doesn’t mind. There are infinite ways to see the world. And through math is one of them.
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
One boy’s quest for a greener world… one garden at a time.
While out exploring one day, a little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, gray city, transforming it into a lush, green world.
Dog Loves Books by Lousie Yates
Dog loves books SO much he opens his very own bookstore. At first he’s short of customers. But that’s all right, because when Dog is surrounded by books, he is never short of friends—or fun. And when customers begin arriving, he knows just which books to recommend.
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees
Giraffes Can’t Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance. With crooked knees and thin legs, it’s harder for a giraffe than you would think. But with some words of encouragement from an unlikely friend, he might just find the courage to be himself on the dance floor.
The Girl with Big, Big Questions by Britney Winn Lee, illustrated by Jacob Souva
“Why can’t people live on the moon?”
“Can I be president when I grow up?”
“What makes a person good?”
These are just some of the questions that bubble forth from one little girl with twinkling eyes and a curious mind. When the girl finds that her big questions make some people uncomfortable, she stops. But then she learns that her questions can solve problems and that asking questions is how we learn and grow.
Khalida and the Most Beautiful Song by Amanda Calatzis
When a song whispers in Khalida’s ear late one night, she is determined to catch it. But the next day, no matter how hard she tries, bad timing and a busy schedule get in the way of her creative pursuit. Khalida longs for time to sit at the piano and make her own music and refuses to give up on her quest. When she finally succeeds, we discover the power of a captivating melody. Readers will relate to Khalida’s overscheduling frustrations as well as her joy as inspiration becomes art. Lush watercolor art showcases how one girl’s determined pursuit of an idea rewards us all with the enduring magic of a beautiful song.
Lola Dutch by Kenneth Wright, illustrated by Sarah Jane Wright
Lola Dutch is a delightfully creative girl who is bursting with grand ideas.
From the best ways to serve breakfast — an elegant feast! — to the ideal sleeping spot — a majestic blanket fort, of course! — Lola is inspired all day long.
Her dear companion Bear sometimes says she is just too much, but Lola is rich with imagination and originality, which even Bear will agree is AMAZING.The unstoppable Lola Dutch is about to show you how to make every day grand and full of fun. You’ll love her so much!
Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin
Garden Glen is a very bland place. Every house and every garden looks exactly like the other. That is… until Millie Fleur La Fae comes to town.
Up on a scruffy hill, beside a ramschackle house, Millie Fleur plants her marvelously strange garden, filled with Sneezing Stickyweed, Fanged Fairymoss, and Grumpy Gilliflower. Millie Fleur finds it enchanting, but the townspeople of Garden Glen call it poison!
But Millie Fleur is proud of her beloved little garden. So if some townspeople want to be sticks in the mud, she’ll take matters into her own hands and find the kindred spirits who appreciate everything the garden has to offer.
The Reptile Club by Maureen Fergus, illusttrated by Elina Ellis
There are lots of clubs for Rory to join at his new school, but none seem quite right for him. So when his parents suggest he start his own club about something he loves, Rory knows exactly what it will be: a Reptile Club! He’s positive that there are other kids out there who share his passion. He sets up his first meeting and then waits and waits for students to show up. Just as he is about to give up, Rory hears whispering in the hallway and hurries over to see who it is. To his astonishment, it’s not his schoolmates who have arrived to attend the first meeting, but a crocodile, an anaconda and a gecko!
Today I Will Fly by Mo Willems
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
When’s My Birthday? by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Christian Robinson
when’s my birthday?
where’s my birthday?
how many days until my birthday?
i’d like a pony for my birthday
and a necklace for my birthday.
i’d like a chicken for my birthday.
i’d like a ball to bounce and bounce.
i’d like a big cake on my birthday
with lots of chocolate on my birthday
and lots of candles on my birthday
1,2,3,4,5, and 6!
