Starting a new year is like opening a brand new box of crayons. There’s a freshness, an excitement, a promise of limitless possibilities. Maybe you have a vision or a plan. Or, you just want to doodle and see what happens. Either way, on day one you start to color in the pages. Chances are, as you continue and the days unfold, you’ll also discover new things about yourself.
A quote attributed to twentieth-century poet and pacifist, Edith Lovejoy Pierce, says it all. “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”
Every new year can be a time to start over, to make changes and adjustments to our lives. At the same time, this yearly milestone presents an opportunity to encourage our children to think about what, if any, changes they may want to adopt. Do they want to:
- Stretch their wings and try a new hobby?
- Step out their comfort zones and meet new people?
- Get involved in something they are passionate about, such as social justice or climate issues?
Whatever you and your family decide to do as the calendar flips over, keep in mind that the new year is so much more than a blank slate. Dr. Seuss put it this way: “You’ll never get bored when you try something new. There’s really no limit to what you can do.” C. S. Lewis takes it bit further: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
As you and your family welcome in 2021, enjoy these delightful picture books that celebrate the New Year.
“The Night Before New Year’s” by Natasha Wing- “Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution” by Pat Miller
- “Freedom Soup” by Tami Charles
- “Every Month Is a New Year: Celebrations Around the World” by Marilyn Singer
- “Shanté Keys and The New Year Peas” by Gail Piernas-Davenport
- “Happy New Year, Spot!” by Eric Hall
- “Just In Time For New Year’s!” by Karen Gray Ruelle
- “Bringing In The New Year” by Grace Lin
- “Feliz New Year Ava Gabriela!” by Alexandra Alessandri
- “New Year’s Day” by Kathryn A. Imler
