If you have small children, you likely spend a good deal of time every night reading to them. If you do already, great! That’s additional time spent together, both opening your kids mind up to new information and fostering a love of reading. If you don’t, you may want to start, since reading is a good way for both you and your child to wind down and relax at the end of the night.
Here at Bookstore Movers, we do encourage reading of every kind (Hi, welcome to this blog!). If you are moving, you may looking to find books to read to your child to get them accustomed to the idea of moving. I’ve gone ahead and found a couple books about moving with characters you may recognize. Hopefully, if these are icons you grew up with and loved, it’s just another memory you can share with your child.
While researching children’s books about moving, I found a plethora of books that teach children either about the physical process of moving or discussed the feelings surrounding moving. There are a ton of resources for a parent, so don’t hesitate to visit your local library or bookstore to look for yourself. I narrowed it down to three books that I would have loved as a child. Two of which, it turns out, were favorites of my older sisters’ when they made the move from Puerto Rico to the United states–which means these books are available in multiple languages as well.
The first book on the list is a character much, much beloved by older generations. If your children aren’t familiar with him, I 100% endorse finding every episode and bringing back the pinnacle of children’s television. Fred Roger’s book series are like his show–educational, encouraging, and captivating. Moving, from his First Experiences Book Series, is a great book. The book is going for a hefty price online, so you’ll want to hop to used bookstores and libraries for this one (and hey, while you’re at it, why not for all of them?). This book chronicles the entire journey, from the child first learning about the move to the end of the move. It answers questions you may not even realize that your child is thinking of.
Whether or not you think you stemmed from an alternate universe, you’ve likely heard of the Berenstain Bears. Their book on moving, The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day, is about Brother Bear and his parents as they move into their well-known tree house. This book focusses on his worries about his move and making new friends. It’s less explanatory than Mr. Roger’s book, but clearly more cartoony and bright. Children will relate to Brother Bear and his fears, and you can go to sleep wondering if it was Berenstain or Berenstein.
Our final book is a classic that you may not have specifically read, but would definitely recognize the style of. A House for Hermit is a picture book by the iconic Eric Carle. The story focuses on a hermit crab who outgrows his shell and finds a new one. He decorates his new home and makes friends, but eventually needs to move once more. Not only will this book show children how to deal with things like moving and growing up, it will also teach them a bit about marine life as well. The artwork, as always, is abstract and beautiful and will keep your kids captivated.
In the end, there are countless children’s’ books about moving, and a great deal of them star characters you know and love. From Sesame Street to Clifford, Alexander to Little Critter, you’ll find a ton of familiar faces on the pages. So get comfortable, grab that last glass of water, and settle in with your loved ones to teach a little about moving and learn a lot about your family.
And for the record, it’s Berenstain.