Three Random Picture Books, One Gentle Conversation
One of my favorite things to do in the classroom was to let children choose randomly. Not strategically. Not thematically. Just… joyfully. Three children. Three books. Then we’d read and wonder together:How do these belong together?
I’m no longer teaching in the classroom, and my own children have grown faster than I can quite believe. This year, I’m slowly working my way through the hundreds (and hundreds!) of picture books that once lived at the heart of our days. No rush. Just revisiting, remembering, and sometimes finding new homes for books that are ready for their next chapter.
Today’s random trio was chosen the same old way—my finger running along the spines until it stopped:
- Everyone by Christopher Silas Neal
- Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
- Little Whale’s Song by Fran Evans
At first glance, they seem very different. But once read together, a quiet conversation began to emerge.
A Circular Feeling
One of the first things I noticed was how circular all three books feel.- In Little Whale’s Song, the story quite literally ends in a circular swim—whales moving together in a calm, rhythmic loop.
- Guess How Much I Love You stretches love “to the moon and back,” a distance that curves us outward and then gently returns us home again.
- Everyone is less narrative and more message-driven, but the illustrations are full of sky, balloons, floating, and the sense of moving through time and space—emotionally and physically—before coming back to connection.
Togetherness and Shared Experience
Another strong thread is togetherness. These books aren’t about solving a problem alone. They’re about being with others.
- Everyone reminds us—simply and powerfully—that feelings are shared. Everyone cries. Everyone struggles. And everyone belongs.
- Little Whale’s Song is about listening, noticing, and finding harmony in a larger community.
- Guess How Much I Love You is an intimate back-and-forth—love measured not to win, but to connect.
Movement, Expression, and the Body
There is also so much movement in these books.- The hares stretch, reach, leap, and yawn as they try to express something too big for words.
- Whale and the sea creatures swim, flick, dance, and glide—movement as communication.
- In Everyone, the child begins heavy and sad, then travels through different spaces and moments, eventually landing in understanding—and a beautiful, grounding hug from a bear.
- a whale-circle that feels like a group hug,
- two hares cuddled before sleep
- a child wrapped in comfort with his teddy bear
Reading Them Together With Children
If you’re a teacher (or a parent, or a librarian), reading these three books together opens up gentle, meaningful conversations. Here are some simple ways to explore them:
Before & During Reading
- Let children notice what they see first: movement, colors, animals, sky, emotions.
- Ask: “What feels the same in these stories?”
- Ask: “How do the characters show feelings without using lots of words?”
After Reading
- Talk about circles:
- Where did we see circles in the stories?
- How do circles feel compared to straight lines?
- Explore togetherness:
- Who was together at the end of each book?
- How did that make the story feel?
Art & Writing Invitations
- Draw a picture that connects all three books (children are amazing at this).
- Draw or paint a circle that shows a feeling—calm, love, happiness, sadness.
- Write or dictate a sentence: “I feel peaceful when…” or “Love feels like…”
A Little January Creativity
If you’re easing back into the year, I’ve also been thinking a lot about gentle beginnings and creative calm.Today in the Pond Coloring Club I’m sharing:
- a Happy New Year coloring page,
- a January coloring calendar page (perfect for teachers, creative planners, and day planners),
🍒 Sundae with a Cherry on Top 🍨
Here's a drawing for the new year that starts with a circle - a sundae with a cherry on top! It’s such a fun, lighthearted drawing for the first week of January, and it lives inside my Start With a Circle directed drawing pack on TPT.
This project is lovely on large paper, painted with big, happy watercolors, and finished with rainbows and hearts in the background. It’s joyful, forgiving, and perfect for easing everyone back into creating.
There’s something deeply comforting about letting books talk to each other—and letting ourselves listen. These three reminded me that feelings are shared, movement matters, and coming back together is always part of the story.
If you try a similar random-book pairing, I’d love to hear what conversations emerge. Sometimes the best connections are the ones we don’t plan at all.
As I begin this new year of blogging and creating, you’re very welcome to stay connected in whatever way feels easiest for you.
You can find me over on Instagram, where I share snippets of classroom-inspired creativity and daily moments, or you can join my newsletter for quieter, occasional updates.
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