Author and playwright Alan Bennett said,

“The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours”

This isn’t just for novels aimed at adult readers. This happens with picture books too, and I love finding those extra special ones that remind me of my own family. I had a lump in my throat reading ‘Cloud Boy’ - it was like reading a book about my own wild wee girl! In this post I’m going to talk about some of my favourite books that remind me of my first born. I jotted down a few of the titles I wanted to mention before writing this post and laughed because it was like looking at a little book portrait of her. All these books, written by people I don’t know, yet feeling like they’ve been written just for us, like a knowing nod. It’s been a tough day today with my girl. We can have quite fiery arguments that leave me feeling like I’m failing miserably as a parent - things are often patched up and forgotten over a bedtime book though (cliche, I know!) Despite being an independent reader now, she still loves having a book read to her. We will read “shop books” together to make sure they’re good enough to make it on to the website. She’s such an amazing, wild, curious, independent, questioning, defiant, adventurous, smart, water loving, sensitive, kind, imaginative kid. I wouldn’t change her for the world. I’m so lucky to be her mum. Maybe after reading about these books you’ll feel like you know her a little bit too!

Cloud Boy by Gregg Stobbs. Neon pink details (as mentioned previously, I’m a sucker for some neon!) and a main character who finds great challenge in trying to focus for any length of time. Perhaps they have ADHD. It’s not explicitly spelled out. You can ask my little girl to pick up something a metre away and she’s distracted by two things on the way to get it and then forgets what she was doing in the first place and goes to another room. While this can - at times - cause frustration at home… I’d also never want to take that aspect of her personality away as it’s that same curiosity in things, her attention to little details & her crazy imagination that makes her so interesting! This book doesn’t see neurodivergence as a deficit, rather something that should be embraced - and a reminder that others would benefit from having their “head in the clouds” every so often too!

A Lost Cause by Felicita Sala. Losing things and lack of focus/overly busy brain go hand in hand I think. I’m a big fan of Felicita Sala (If you Run Out of Words being a favourite from 2024) and this tale of an endearing piglet losing everything - including his hat, gold football, special water bottle, 4 toothbrushes, special sweater with the dogs, marble collection, Einstein bobble head pen, first tooth and his hat (again!) - is another added to the favourite pile. One that I handed to my husband with a smile and said who does that remind you of? And similar to If You Run Out Of Words, it all turns a bit whimsical with Rocco the talking painted rock (we have Rocky the rock!). I also am fond of a book with double page spreads full of little, often amusing, details!

How Many Sleeps Until Christmas?! by Rebecca Patterson & Luciano Lozano. My little girl’s birthday is around 6 months away from Christmas and the countdown to the next starts not long after the other has finished. I worry she’s spoiled or ungrateful sometimes…. But am reminded in books like this one that the extended countdown to Christmas is more universal than I probably think and I just need to keep showing gratitude to teach gratitude…. Also the ripe elf costume and singing Jingle Bells to every star made me laugh in empathy with the mum and dad as the Christmas songs (Last Christmas being the current pick!) have started being sung with enthusiasm in our house already!

The Girl Who Noticed Everything by Jane Porter & Maisie Paradise Shearring is such a beautiful book. I’m always amazed at what my wee girl notices and the visual connections she makes when we’re out and about. Like the drain cover that looks like it’s got an airplane on it. Or the cloud that looks like a narwhal. Amazed and also a bit guilt ridden at how much you miss as an adult because you’ve got a stupid phone in your hand while your child is in awe over the shape of a rock. This book celebrates the joy of the everyday and you could spend hours pouring over the illustrations and all the mini stories going on in the background! Like Cloud Boy, it’s a wee nudge to be more like Stella, more mindful of our surroundings as there’s often wonder there if we just look!

Forts by Katie Venit & Kenard Pak. My girl loves making a fort - she does not love a bought fort - she likes to make one. Under a table. Between chairs. In the garden. Between couches and travel cots.

“The world is filled with forts. Tiny worlds within this world, safe as coat pockets”.

I’ve always thought when my daughter is in her little forts of blankets and cushions (sometimes fairy lights if she’s being extra fancy!) that they’re her safe place. And this is a warm, cosy, safe book. Love the colours. Love the words. Love it.

Goodnight Sun by Eoin McLaughlin & Morag Hood. Oh my God. Sleep. Sleep with my first born has been an issue since she was born. There’s something genetic going on (her Dad is a night owl too!) and I think she finds it genuinely tricky to switch off her busy brain but there’s also a part of her that just thinks sleep is wasted time, that she’ll miss something good, there’s just always “one more thing” to do that’s a better use of time than mundane sleep! And if all other excuses to stay up fail, there’s always the classic (that Sun also uses) - “I need a drink!” It’s bright and fun thanks to Morag Hood’s illustrations and Sun is just the right side of cheeky! That “been here before” type! (And who’s been here longer than the sun!)

Mr Santa by Jarvis. With my daughter’s busy inquisitive brain, as you might have guessed, comes with it many (many, MANY!) questions. Most of which I’ve never thought of nor have the answer to. And while this little girl doesn’t ask why can you hold a fruit shoots bottle upside down and the juice doesn’t come out (“eh…physics….a vacuum maybe….hold on I’ll look it up”) or why is your lips skin a different colour from your face skin (“I’ll look it up”) or does a plane need to be a certain height to have a jet stream? (I’m looking it up!”) She does ask Santa A LOT! I can’t imagine the questions he’d be asked should he meet my girl! Mr Santa by Jarvis is a wee dreamy charmer of a book!

Wave by Suzy Lee. This wordless delight shows a day out at a beach for a little girl and her mum (I assume mum but might not be - a bonus of wordless books - you can decide that part of the story!) Pure picture books are great for everyone, including the more reluctant or non-readers (as well as parents who aren’t confident in reading out loud!) We don’t need words to tell us Lee’s little girl is wild & vivacious (just like my own - especially at the beach!) but even this lively kid can be humbled by a giant wave! The day reminds me so much of some of my own family days out - usually at the beaches around the Fife coast. Lee’s illustrations, while minimalist in style and painted with a limited pallette, pack a punch in terms of storytelling! Pretty spectacular….you can hear the waves lapping and crashing on the pages.

What books have you found that feel like they have been created especially for you and your family?

P.S. Free Palestine! (Always in my thoughts!)