Celebrating with Picture Books

In our home, we read a seasonal picture book every day during our circle time.  Each week has its own seasonal theme, so all the books we read during a single week are connected by one overarching idea.  But the main point is, I read a seasonally themed picture book every day to my children.  

I believe with all of my heart that reading aloud picture books every day is one of the most important things I do as a mother and homeschool mom.   Of course, it builds our family connections.  Of course, it gives my children beautiful language patterns to furnish their minds.  Of course, it gives them good ideas to think more deeply about.  But is also strengthens the idea that we celebrate God and His creation every day.  Reading a seasonal picture book every day is probably one of the easiest things we can do to foster a family feeling of celebration.  Because, I believe we should be celebrating, noticing, savoring, and delighting in God's truth, beauty, and goodness every day.  And that is exactly what we are doing when we are celebrating.  And that is exactly what we are doing when we are reading aloud a short and sweet picture book that celebrates the seasons.

I was thinking about all of this as we put away our Halloween decorations, yesterday, November 1st, and getting out our Thanksgiving decorations.  This includes putting away our Halloween books, and pulling out our Thanksgiving books.  It is just another way to show our children that every month is special, every month is worth celebrating.  It is just another way to mark the passing of time and the changing of the seasons.  And it sure does work.  My children absolutely delight in seeing all their favorite books again.  They have created such fond memories of all those Thanksgiving books that we have not seen for a year now.  It is like they are at the same time getting a new gift and reacquainting with an old friend as we set them around our home.  Everyone stops what they are doing, pretty much, and starts looking through the pages.  They begin remembering and enjoying once again.

So, I would strongly recommend two simple things to anyone who is looking for easy ways to create a feeling of celebration of the seasons, a celebration of God and His most magnificent creation:
1.  Read aloud seasonal picture books every day
2.  Rotate those picture books so that Christmas books come out in December, winter snow books come out in January, Valentines books come out in February, spring themed books come out in March...I think you get the idea!