Thanks for joining my “Mommy and Me” Book Club. I hope you’re enjoying my ongoing “stay in bed and read” series.
As you’re reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho in bed (or in your favorite armchair), feel free to share these picture books with your children.
For every “mommy book” read, I’ll suggest a “me book” for your children with a similar theme. It is my hope that this “Mommy and Me” book club is a fun activity for you and your children.
5 Picture Book Biographies That Will Inspire Your Kids to Achieve Their Dreams
1. Me … Jane (2011) | Patrick McDonnell
This story features a young Jane Goodall, world renowned primatologist, who has a dream to one day help animals. Goodall starts off studying butterflies, then moves to small animals, and finally to chimpanzees for which she is famous. This book inspires children to have a goal and go after it. (Age Range: 1-6 years)
2. Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx (2009) | Patrick McDonnell
Born and raised in a poor neighborhood of South Bronx, Sonia Sotomayor rises above her circumstances to become the first Latina Supreme Court justice. This story chronicles Sotomayor’s life as she grows up in poverty and gets an education. The book emphasizes how important a role supportive family and friends play in helping you achieve your dreams. (Age Range: 4-8 years)
3. Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path (2008) | Joseph Bruchac
Jim Thorpe is a Native American with a tough childhood. His parents and brother all die, so Thorpe must attend an Indian boarding school, an unhappy place with people who don’t teach him to dream. (Native Americans are expected to enter society as manual laborers.) Despite a rough start, Thorpe becomes one of the greatest athletes of all time. This book reminds readers that anyone can turn a bleak present into a bright future. (Age Range: 6-11 years)
4. A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin (2013) | Jen Bryant
In this tale, Horace Pippin (b. 1888) is a self-taught African-American artist who loves to draw and paint as a child. When Pippin is in eighth grade, his father leaves the family. Consequently, Pippin quits school to support his family. He’s wounded as a solder in World War I and never regains full use of his right arm. Nevertheless, Pippin begins painting again, using his left arm to guide his right. This book teaches us that anything worth doing is difficult, but well worth the effort. (Age Range: 5-8 years)
5. The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdös (2013) | Deborah Heiligman
In this story, Paul Erdös is a boy who excels at math, but struggles with everyday tasks like buttering bread. Despite being different, Erdös becomes a brilliant and sociable mathematician who travels the world sharing his love of numbers. This book inspires children who might not identify with the typical sports and adventure type heroes. (Age Range: 5-8 years)
A Final Thought – From the Pillow
Keep your children dreaming.
So choose books and media that promote dreaming. (I’m in love with Disney’s Dream Big Princess campaign. Sometimes if I need a little boost, I pull up a video on YouTube.) We all want to know the secret to encouraging our children to achieve their dreams. While I can’t pretend to know the mystery, I can offer you a list of books, which will hopefully inspire you and your children to go in pursuit of their passions.
What other picture books would you add to the list?
