MBC: Under the Lilacs

It’s lilac season and I wait all year to share this book with children and families.

Under the Lilacs, by E.B. Goodale, is one of my favorite stories.

It’s also a beautiful book to share around Mother’s Day, as it highlights the importance of a mother in a child’s life.

Children love this story, which has a gentle, playful spirit. At the same time, it provides a model for processing real feelings that come up when sharing life with a sibling and a parent. This is part of its appeal - children relate to the character’s emotions.

If you were ever a child who constructed forts out of boxes, contemplating leaving your house - with your pet by your side - in a moment of sibling exasperation, or experienced the small frustrations that can arise when a working parent tends to their real and important responsibilities, you’ll also resonate with this book.

Maybe you’ll share some of these stories with your child after reading? I hope so.

And don’t forget to go on a sensory walk to explore lilac season, too. This book can help amplify that learning.

Enjoy!