Booklist: Housebound Edition

Meagan Ledendecker • May 11, 2020

Girl in small chair with book, surrounded by books

Hello dear families. We are sending out our love and support during this challenging time. We know you are stuck at home, but we hope you have found some beautiful moments or ways to make it work. In lieu of our regular book list this month, we created one that may be helpful in this unique situation. The list consists of two parts: books that may be helpful in content if you are so inclined to order them online and prefer physical books, and sources for ebooks for children.

Books About Health and Viruses

Germs Are Not for Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick, illustrated by Marieka Heinlen

Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, Germs Are Not for Sharing has simple text and clear illustrations that teach and remind little ones what they should do when they are sick. For example, “Cough, cough, cough! What do you need to do? Turn your head away. Cough into your sleeve.” (Read aloud version on YouTube here.)

Germ’s Journey by Thom Rooke M.D., illustrated by Anthony Phillip Trimmer

Ideal for lower elementary-aged children, Trimmer’s mischievous-looking green germ character, combined with Rooke’s clear explanations give kids a better sense of how we spread germs to one another and what they do in our bodies. Perfect for giving information to children who are curious to learn more about why we are self-isolating and how our immune systems work to protect our bodies, this book couldn’t be more timely. (YouTube read aloud version.)

It’s a Small World! by Simon Basher, illustrated by Dan Green

For the science lovers: Basher’s book gets into descriptions of various microbes. Striking drawings will appeal to kids, as will more information than they will find in a typical storybook. From the first discoveries of bacteria, to how our bodies defend themselves against germs, and facts about a variety of microbes, there is plenty of fascinating information to satisfy curious kids.

Books About Emotions and Compassion

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Our children are undoubtedly missing friends and family. We can help them remember the unwavering connections of love with this sweet book. When two children are frightened by a thunderstorm and unsure about their mother’s request that they return to bed, she teaches them about the invisible strings that connect us all. (YouTube read aloud here.)

Have You Filled Your Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud, illustrated by David MessingWhile this book was written with children in mind, the message is for everyone. Even the most peaceful of families is likely getting a little stir-crazy right about now. Learn how to fill your bucket and how you can help others with their own. It’s helpful to stop and remember that our thoughts and actions can have profound effects on ourselves and those around us. ( Here is a YouTube read aloud version. )

Peace Is An Offering by Annette LeBox, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

Peace Is An Offering blends beautiful illustrations with an even more beautiful message. The book reminds children that even small acts of kindness make a really big difference in the lives of those around us. It does touch on tragedy without being overly graphic or upsetting. For example, there is mention of needing a home, towers falling, and losing a loved one. We recommend watching a video of the book being read aloud in YouTube if you unsure whether the story would be right for your child. (YouTube read aloud here.)

Free Ebook Sources for Children

hoopla | streaming audiobooks, music, video & ebooks

Hoopla runs in connection with public libraries. Check with your local library to see if you have access. (Bonus: There’s plenty of great titles for adults as well!)

Amazon’s Top 100 Free Kindle Books This list is updated each hour to reflect the most popular books downloaded by users. You may be surprised by what you can find at no cost!

International Children’s Digital Library This site contains thousands of titles in a multitude of languages. Readers get to look at high-quality scans of actual books pages, which can be a refreshing treat when it comes to ebooks.

Barnes & Noble Free eBooks for Kids The store boasts more than 5000 titles geared toward a range of ages. Another added benefit is the ability to sort through various categories of interest, so you’re not just scrolling through a muddle of books that won’t interest you child.

As always, we love to hear your feedback. Whether you end up checking out one of the recommendations and want to share your thoughts, or if you have another book or resource you think the families of our community would appreciate, please feel free to reach out. Happy reading!

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Close up image of a child's and adult's face cheek-to-cheek, with fake mustaches

When at Wit’s End

By Meagan Ledendecker • April 14, 2025

Discover four key strategies to strengthen your parent-child connection: understanding mistaken goals, using playful parenting, scheduling special time, and creating visual routines.

Image of an adult talking at eye level with three pre school aged children

Tattling vs. Telling: A Montessori Approach

By Meagan Ledendecker • April 13, 2025

Help children navigate social conflicts with empathy and problem-solving. Learn how to reframe tattling, guide constructive conversations, and build independence!

Unlocking the Magic of Language: Montessori Sentence Analysis

By Meagan Ledendecker • April 7, 2025

Did you know that the word "grammar" evolved from "glamour"? This linguistic connection reflects an ancient association between language and enchantment. When we introduce Montessori's sentence analysis work, we offer more than just a lesson—we present an enchanting gift! We regularly witness children falling in love with language as they uncover its patterns and structures. At the elementary level, children possess a reasoning mind, an active imagination, and a deep need for communication. The Montessori sentence analysis activities appeal to these characteristics, helping children connect as they creatively discover the underlying patterns of our language. Why Do We Teach Sentence Analysis in the Elementary? Children are natural pattern seekers. They love to identify and understand structures in the world around them, including language. We want them to fall in love with language. By engaging in hands-on grammar work, children develop an appreciation for the beauty of sentence construction. Sentence analysis provides clarity. Understanding sentence structure helps children write with greater precision and confidence. Analysis leads to synthesis. When children break down sentences, they gain the tools to build more complex and meaningful expression in their own writing. What Sentence Analysis Involves The elementary sentence analysis materials introduce a set of symbols (that correlate to what children have experienced with the Montessori grammar boxes and the symbols for parts of speech), along with color-coded arrows with questions on one side and grammatical names on the other. When breaking apart the parts of the sentence, children first identify what brings the sentence to life: the verb (predicate). To identify the subject of the sentence, children ask the questions from one of the arrows emanating out from the action: Who is it that? What is it? By answering those questions, the children are able to determine the subject. Let’s use a very simple sentence as an example: Josie jumped. The children first identify the action: jumped. They can underline this word in red and then can cut it out or tear it out in order to be able to place the word on the red predicate circle. Then they use the black arrows to answer the question: Who is it that jumped? Josie!