Island Parent Magazine Dec-Jan 2023

KIDS’READS
The Magic of Make-Believe
Do you regularly hear your child complain about bedtime
and having to go to sleep? Then perhaps it’s time for your
child to think about how the bed feels when it hears that
night after night after night. Time for Bed’s Story by Monica
Arnaldo (Kids Can Press, 2020) gives you just that. A story
by the sticker-covered springboard about how kicking and
the drooling makes it very hard for bed to sleep at night.
And all Bed wants is for its child to think of Bed’s feelings
when it’s bedtime. For ages 4 to 7.
Ray by Marianna Coppo (Tundra, 2020), is all about a
lightbulb named Ray. His life in the closet is pretty boring,
so boring that he often slips into dreamless sleeps. Until one
day something magical happens and Ray’s life is forever
changed. This story is a beautifully illustrated tale about the
wonders of the outdoors and the magical powers of imagination.
For ages 4 to 7.
Once your child’s imagination has been woken up, they
might like some ideas about how to get their ideas out of
their minds and into the world for others to enjoy. If that’s
the case, then Studio: A Place for Art to Start by Emily Arrow
and illustrated by Little Friends of Printmaking could
be a good book for you. This brightly coloured tale follows
some bunnies around as they learn about different kinds of
art and the studios where they’re made as they try to find the
perfect place for them to make their own art. For ages 4 to
7.
Imagine you and your family are home one day and suddenly
the power goes out. You tell the kids not to worry
because it’ll be back on in a moment. But then that moment
stretches and to them it feels like an eternity has passed
and the lights are still out.
How do you pass the time?
In some cultures and families, you’d tell stories. If you
don’t think your imagination is up to the task of coming up
with a tale, I bet your kids could. And if they can’t, here are
a few stories about dreams and imaginings that might spark
your own creativity.
Story Boat by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Rashin
Kheiriyeh (Tundra, 2020) highlights the wonders of a young
refugee child’s imagination as they travel across the water to
find somewhere to belong. Kheiriyeh’s drawings are captivating
as Rashin turns ideas about what “here” means into cozy
cups of tea and ceramic sailboats with apricot blanket sails
that provide warmth and safety through a scary trek. If you
have ever found yourself struggling to explain what a refugee
is without delving deeply into the scary situations they
face, this book is for you. For ages 4 to 7.
20 Island Parent Magazine IslandParent.ca