Picture Books and Family History
With All Souls Day (or Dia de Los Muertos) approaching on November 2nd, it brings to mind picture books that impart family history. For many of us November is a time to remember family members that have died. And as we talk about them, we tell their stories so that they may be remembered by the next generation. Many authors have passed down their families’ history through picture books, inviting us to become part of their families. I am sharing an activity that we do every November, it has helped us to remember our loved ones who have died and pass down our family history.
Family history does not have to be full of heroics, the everyday memories are just as important. The below picture books are about everyday memories that have been treasured through generations.
Tomie dePaola
Tomie dePaola has written many autobiographical picture books. He has invited us to meet his Irish-Italian family and to join him down memory lane. All of his autobiographical picture books are told through his little boy’s eyes at the age he was at the time of the events. This adds a sweet and melancholic touch to his tales. Some of my favorite picture books are Tom, The Baby Sister, Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs, as well as The Art Lesson.
Tom
In this picture book we are transported back to the days when Tommy regularly went to visit his Irish grandfather, Tom. Not only did Tomie and his grandfather share the same name, but they also shared a profound sense of humor, and many practical jokes. Tom must have been quite a character and his playfulness explains a few things about Tomie’s. What a wonderful way to be remembered because of your sense of humor!
The Baby Sister
This one makes me melt every time! Little Tommy asks his mother for a baby sister with a red bow in her hair. Tomie describes beautifully how the whole family prepares for the baby’s arrival, and especially his own excitement. Until the baby decides to come early and Nana Fall-River ends up being in charge of Buddy and Tommy while Mom is in the hospital. Nana and Tommy don’t quite see eye to eye… But could Tommy and Nana’s relationship change?
Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs
Tommy loves to visit his grandmother, Nana Downstairs, as well as his great-grandmother, Nana Upstairs. This endearing story reminds us how much children benefit from being around their elders and vice versa. This is a bittersweet story, but perfect for the month of November. It introduces children to the death of loved ones. This picture book should be a must have in all home libraries. It is a beautiful example of loving relationships and approaches death in a beautiful and loving way.
The Art Lesson
Young Tommy loves art and drawing, but he encounters many difficulties at school because of it. When art class starts Tommy wants to go his own way, he does not want to follow the direction from his art teacher… But Mrs Bowers understands and soon Tommy can let his imagination run free. And he has ever since! This sweet tale of Tomie dePaola’s first art lesson is beautiful. I am so proud of Mrs. Bowers for understanding his needs and not squashing his dreams and aspirations.
Patricia Polacco
For true, down in the weeds family history, none surpass Patricia Polacco! Patricia Polacco comes from a long line of story tellers and it shows. Both through her mixed medium illustrations and her beautiful words Patricia Polacco brings to life her family’s heritage in the most amazing way. Most of her books, especially her Christmas ones, are taken from her family’s history. I will only highlight a few of them, with more to come around Christmas time.
The Keeping Quilt
This is the amazing story of Anna, Patricia’s great-Gramma, and of her dress and babushka. Soon after arriving in New York City from Russia, Anna’s dress and babushka became too small. Her mother saves them along with other family members’ clothing to make a family quilt. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation and presides at weddings, death beds and births. What a beautiful tale of family love and tradition! I highly recommend it!
My Ol’Man and Some Birthday!
Both these odes to her father are full of humor and whimsy! Patricia Polacco’s dad must have been quite a character! It does not sound like he was around much but when he was he made sure to make a lasting impression. What wonderful memories and how many good laughs are gotten from reading about him.
Rotten Ritchie books
Patricia Polacco’s older brother, Ritchie, made her childhood miserable. But that was back then, now she has had a wonderful time writing all about his antics and their wonderful adventures together. Sharing sibling rivalries or friendships with our children helps them see that what they are living is normal and can become beautiful. There is something so special about siblings, where things can swing from deep love and appreciation to hatred in seconds, we just know how to push each others’ buttons. Beautiful examples of loving, but imperfect, relationships are important. And it’s even better if they are real stories.
Included in the picture above are Rotten Ritchie and the Ultimate Dare, Gifts From the Heart and My Rotten Red Headed Older Brother, also known as the Ritchie Books.
The Bee Tree and The Mermaid’s Purse
These two have my heart! The Bee Tree is about Mary Ellen (Patricia Polacco’s mother) discovering from her grandfather the love of learning through chasing bees to a honey. It’s a sweet, whimsical tale, filled with interesting characters and country chase like no other. From it you also discover a family tradition that is beautiful and powerful and that keeps the whole family strong in its beliefs.
The Mermaid’s Purse is the story of Stella, Patricia’ grandmother, and the beautiful library that she established as a girl. A storm and the loss of the library brought all the neighbors together and triggered the building of an even better library! A beautiful story of resilience and what it truly means to be a neighbor. A family story that has an impact still today in the community where it happened.
Remembering our own loved ones
In the Catholic Church the month of November is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory, when we remember all of our dearly departed and pray for them. Here are two very simple ways to bring their memory to the center of our life for that month and to explore our family’s history.
Family and friends poster
For years, every November I have pulled out this simple poster of pictures of our family’s loved ones who have died. I started it years and years ago when my children were very little. It started with only a few pictures of my great grandparents, grandparents, and my husband’s grandparents. But every year it has been added to. It is always very bittersweet but my children love it and I love it. This poster helps put faces to the names. It brings out the best stories and it helps us come together as a family.
It is very simple, a poster board folded in half, with scrapbooking paper glued to the front. Then I print pictures of people, if I don’t have any already printed and cut and glue them on. We then display this on our home altar for the whole month of November and pray especially for the souls of the people on the poster.
Family and friends candle
Another thing we have done when room was limited, was get a tall devotional glass candle, like the ones in church. We get a clear glass one and with a Sharpie write the names of all of our loved ones who have died. It is then displayed at the center of our dining room table and every evening we pray for the people whose names are written on the candle.
These are two simple ways to remember our loved ones, pass down your own family’s history and pray for the repose of their souls. May your month of November be full of memories, stories and love for your family.
Love,
Mattie