Not Hibernating

There was a story in the news recently that said at one time humans might have been able to hibernate. The research is still preliminary, but it is fascinating to think that at one time we could sleep through the winter like the bears do. There are some of us who wouldn’t mind going to sleep for an extended period right now, during this pandemic winter filled with political strife, and wake up in a more hopeful spring. For many of us it already feels like we have been hibernating for the past several months, doesn’t it? But I am tired of hibernating. I love sitting by the fire with the cats and a good book, but I want to get out into the world. I want to do things.

I’m not talking about big things, like taking trips to Paris or throwing big parties with lots of family and friends, though I’m looking forward to doing those things too. For me, it is the everyday trips and little joys that I miss. I can’t wait to take the bus into Harvard Square and browse the bookstores and have a leisurely lunch in a cafe, or take the subway into Boston and go to a museum, or go shopping, or just walk around without a mask among my fellow humans. What do the kids miss? Probably a lot of the same things. Going into a toy store. Exploring the city. Visiting grandma overnight. We can’t do these things now, but we can do them in books!

So let’s do things in books! First up, a delightfully ordinary but magical winter day in My Winter City, by James Gladstone with pictures by Gary Clement. A young boy wakes up to a snowy day in his city and goes tobogganing with his father and his dog. That’s all that happens, but they are doing things. City things. With other people! They get bundled up in winter gear and go out into the city sidewalks with

trudging, huffing creatures (who) move at the sluggish speed of snow.

They wait for and board the city bus packed with other passengers. Everyone is all so close together! With no masks! Turn the page and the boy and dog sled down the big hill alongside other children. Then they walk back through town, past city buildings and traffic and a vibrant downtown filled with busy shops, workers, and all the things about city life that we all miss. I want to hang out here. Detailed watercolor illustrations invite the reader into the story; you can almost feel the cold snow falling everywhere, and hear the sounds of a crowded city sidewalk. At the end of the day they arrive home to a warm bed where the young boy dreams about his winter city,

My winter city holds us together in a dream before sleeping, under sheets, under covers…a blanket of snow.

A boy enjoying the mundane joys of a city day in winter. His winter city. At the end he asks the reader, “What’s yours?” A great question to ask children what their dream day in the city might look like, or to reminisce about past winter city adventures.

For another trip to the city, why not join the sixteen girls in Aki’s The City Girls? When was the last time you went on a city adventure with that many of your pals? These girls have breakfast at a food cart, take the subway, browse a bookshop, and go to the museum. Sounds like a perfect day to me. The vibrant illustrations starting with the matching sunshine yellow coats that the girls all wear, to the delightful chaos of sixteen girls crossing a busy city intersection, will make any reader smile.

Again, an ordinary-extraordinary day in the city. After returning home, the girls look out the window of their high rise (do they all live in the same building?) at the darkening skyline,

Back upstairs, it’s such a sight…Bright lights on a city night.

They are out of their matching yellow coats, and are wearing different pajamas. Are they having a sleepover? Do your kids remember those? Something else for them to dream about doing again someday. The last couple of pages describe the difference between cities, the suburbs, and the country. So many adventures to plan.

Visiting grandparents is something many children would love to plan. In Maud and Grand-Maud, by Sara O”Leary and illustrated by Kenard Pak, that’s what this lucky grandchild gets to do.

On special Saturdays, Maud goes to Grand-Maud’s house and doesn’t go home until Sunday.

How many day trips and sleepovers with grandparents are going to happen in the next few months when the pandemic is over? I hope they are as much fun as they are in this story. Maud and Grand-Maud wear matching nightgowns, eat breakfast for dinner, and watch old black and white movies. Under her bed is a wooden chest into which Grand-Maud always places a new treat for Maud to discover. All fun things to do. But the best moments are when they share stories and dreams with each other. Grand-Maud talks about her childhood, before becoming a grandmother.

“Once upon a time, I was just Maud.”

And then Grand-Maud asks Maud to share her dreams of the future. Young Maud announces that she plans to write stories about cats and have seven children. Grand-Maud listens and tells her that then she will have a granddaughter of her own. The story ends with Maud sleeping peacefully in bed dreaming about her future granddaughter,

And in the dream, she is just waiting for one of Maud’s special visits.

Such a lovely story about grandparents and the special bond they share with their grandchildren. It is the little moments like these that many children and families are missing right now, but what a great book to share with a grandparent when they finally get together, or right now over Zoom.

So think about what you want to do and grab a book about it. Start with the little adventures but then reach for the sky. Books about Paris and parties and trips around the world, too. And when you are feeling tired and wish you could hibernate, go check out some books about hibernation!