Six children's books to inspire purposeful, intentional living
Of the many challenges motherhood has presented to me, the one I felt most unprepared for was the noise. Everyday another cacophany of influences ringing ever louder, working hard to wear down my principles with the unending decision fatigue until I no longer see them in the choices I make. And if I can not hear clearly, how can I expect my children to take in the true meaning of life.
As I write today, my daughter is six years old and my son is three. We enjoy reading together - and apart and over the years we have curated a small home library of wonderful, mindful stories. As frequent library-goers, we are never short of new books to enjoy, but it is with intention we have decided which are to stay in our lives and which are to be returned to the stack. These are the stories that, for us, we can read time and time again, receiving pleasure and understanding with each reading. It is no accident, therefore, that many of these stories are the ones that align with our family values: purposeful, intentional living, minimalism and consideration for people and planet. Here are six books we have enjoyed for many years, their spines cracked, some pages now torn and corners bent as proof of just how beneficial they are to pause, slow down and listen.
Sneaky Beak, Tracey Cordery, Tony Neal 2019; Little Tiger Press (London)
“How silly I’ve been,” whispered Bear, “changing beds, and bathtubs, and breakfasts.” What made him happiest of all was none of those things.”
I can not read this line without a lump in my throat causing a moment to take a breath (and let the emotion wash over me), allowing my children to reflect on those words - and those which come next. This book highlights, in an accessible way for young children, the challenge we face in our consumerist society. It cleverly demonstrates the ease of being sold to, of choosing new, or more, and the consequences of those choices now and for tomorrow. My daughter and son enjoy this book in equal measure.
Seasons Come, Seasons Go Tree, Britta Teckentrup 2015; Little Tiger Kids (London)
Food is gathered and stored away Ready for a winter’s day.
In a world where we can buy anything whenever we want, often with to-the-doorstep delivery, the rhythm of the seasons and their impact on our health and wellbeing are being lost. I have used this book to inspire many homeschool activities, to help my children remain mindful of the season we live in and the benefits each season gives us when we slow down and pay attention. Teckentrup’s beautiful illustrations draw even the most reluctant reader in.
Tidy, Emily Gravett 2016; Two Hoots (London)
Perfectly tidy and perfectly neat. “This forest is practically perfect,” said Pete.
I am acutely aware of the subliminal messaging presented, from birth, to my daughter over the world’s expectation of neatness and order. From the toys, the clothing, the nursery styling and all their saccharine colours on the shop’s shelves, my husband and I made a conscious choice to ‘gender-neutral’ parent her. When our son was born, it became even clearer the benefits our choices were having over shaping their world experiences. The challenge came when it was time to open up a dialogue over this. Tidy prompts big questions: What is mess and what is order? Which is better? And why do each have their place in the world? How do we decide what is beautiful and what is trash? And what impact - in Pete the Badger’s case - do his choices have on the world?
Mr Tiger Goes Wild, Peter Brown 2013; Macmillan (London)
Everyone was perfectly fine with the way things were. Everyone but Mr Tiger.
This book speaks very differently to me as an adult than it does to my children who remain relatively free from the notion of what it means to conform. The moment Mr Tiger makes the decision to change his status quo has me swelling with pride, and a ‘nude’ tiger always causes hilarity at bedtime (despite the fact all tigers in real life are ‘nude’!). The simple message of remaining true to yourself - who you are - is so important in this media mad world. However it is the character finding balance - that life doesn’t need to be one of extremes - which I love most about this book.
The Extraordinary Gardener, Sam Boughton 2018; Tate (London)
When Joe saw his new friends so happy, he had another idea.
I feel such joy that my children already show some interest in gardening although it’s fair to say their focus is on the enjoyment of eating (demolishing!) their harvests. Gardening can be so transformative both for your home and your wellbeing, whilst growing a generosity of spirit we seek to encourage in our children: this story shows just that all from a child’s perspective.
The Whale Who Wanted More, Rachel Bright, Jim Field 2021; Orchard Books (London)
So he never felt satisfied, that was for sure, And, no matter the bounty, he just wanted more.
At first glance I assumed this book was an environmental fable - the cover image of a whale tied up in a sea of detritus. Oh, how wrong I was. If you are looking for a gentle way to introduce the power of minimalism to children in a thought-provoking, mindful way, this is the book for you. I still can not read the last page without holding my two close with tears of gratitude in my eyes. (My enough.)
Do you own any of these books? Perhaps you have a beloved story aligned to your values which you read with your little ones which you think others may enjoy too. Please leave a comment here, I would absolutely love to know.
And just one more before I go, for children older than mine:
No One Is Too Small To Make A Difference, Greta Thunberg 2019; Penguin Random House UK (London)
Sometimes we just simply have to find a way. The moment we decide to fulfil something, we can do anything.
Inside the cover of our book is a dedication to our daughter on the day she started school, written by her Guide Mother. I have yet to read this to her, afraid of the questions it will throw up, hiding behind the fear I can not fix the problems she will face. But I will. Oh yes, I will, because I wholeheartedly believe no person is too small to make a difference. That’s why I dedicated my book, The Joy of Reusable Nappies, to my children too.
