How to Create a Rainy Day Bookshelf for Children Who are Afraid of Thunder and Lightening + Some of our Favorite Books and Craft Kits!

How to Create a Rainy Day Bookshelf for Children Who are Afraid of Thunder and Lightening + Some of our Favorite Books and Craft Kits

Tornado season is approaching for north Texas which means that it's a tough time of year for young children who are afraid of thunder and lightening.  If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro, you probably woke up early this morning thanks to the morning thunderstorm. We have more of these storms on the horizon, so I thought that I would share something fun that my children do on rainy days -- they pick a book or craft kit from our Rainy Day Bookshelf. 

Let me share some tips for curating your own Rainy Day Bookshelf! 

1. Let your children know about it!

I have found that the Rainy Day Bookshelf provides a much needed distraction from scary tornado weather. My children eye the Rainy Day Bookshelf on sunny days, but I promise them that they will be able to pick anything that they want on the next rainy day. Personally, my children are like many others that the Texas thunder and lightening scares them. The Rainy Day Bookshelf helps to distract them from their fears during storms (especially when we have to hide in my closet during tornado watches).

2. Keep soft blankets and other storm supplies on the bottom shelf.

We keep blankets and flashlights on the bottom shelf so that our children are able to have something soft to comfort them and flashlights that help them to feel safer if the electricity goes out.

3. Choose popular books that are true page turners.

Your child may be in a mood to read a book after hanging out in a closet for hours. It's important to have popular books that will keep them engaged. Here are some of our favorites:

Owly #3: Flying Lessons by Andy Rutton: In Flying Lessons, Owly figures out why he can't fly, and helps another forest creature with his own flying problems. Relying on a mixture of symbols, icons, and expressions to tell his silent stories, Runton's clean, animated, and heartwarming style makes it a perfect read for anyone who's a fan of Jeff Smith's Bone or Mike Kunkel's Herobear and the Kid. Already winning fans around the world, Owly is not to be missed.

Peppa Pig: Happy Easter! by Reika Chan: Peppa is ready to celebrate in this egg-shaped board book perfect for Easter! Peppa knows the Easter Bunny will only come to hide eggs if children aren't looking, but she is just so curious! What will happen?

Bunbun & Bonbon #1: Fancy Friends by Jess Keating: Bunbun has it all: a delightful Bunbun nose, a winning Bunbun smile, a ridiculously cute Bunbun tail, and not one, but two adorable Bunbun ears. But Bunbun doesn't have a friend—until Bunbun meets Bonbon. Together they learn how to be fancy, eat donuts for lunch, and more. Hop hop hooray! This series is part of Scholastic's graphic-novel line, Graphix. These books are ideal for reluctant readers of all ages. with funny, simple text and unforgettable characters, graphic novels help motivate struggling students. The interplay of text and illustrations helps build reading comprehension, and the approachable story lengths give newly independent

Bunbun & Bonbon #2: Hoppy Go Lucky by Jess Keating: A bad-luck day turns into a quest to find a unicorn in the second book in this graphic novel series starring a chipper young bunny and a fancy talking candy. Featuring zany text and adorable drawings from acclaimed author-illustrator Jess Keating, Bunbun & Bonbon: Hoppy Go Lucky will appeal to beginning readers who are eager to dive in to graphic novels. Graphix series are ideal books for even the youngest readers. With funny, simple text, unforgettable characters, illustrations that support comprehension, and approachable story lengths, these books grow newly independent readers' confidence and turn them into life-long book lovers!

4. Stock up on craft kits that help to distract their attention from the storm.

Hands-on projects are a great way to help distract little ones from a storm.  Scholastic is our go-to store when it comes to craft kits. I love how their kits are educational and and fun. The creators pay meticulous attention to detail from beginning to end. Many of their kits help children with fine motor skills while inspiring creativity. Here are some of our favorites:

Klutz: Light Up Rocks & Gems Collection: Get the stone-cold facts on rocks! Packed with 29 unique rocks, gems, and minerals, this is the perfect kit to start or expand a rock collection. Build a color-changing light-up display with an agate slice: use it as a lamp, or study the stones up close with the included magnifying glass. Learn fun facts about each rock in the fully colored 32-page book including 6 experiments and activities with easy-to-find ingredients from home.

Klutz Jr: My First Rock & Gem Collection: Junior gemologists will "dig" learning about rocks and minerals with this beginner's collection. The kit includes 8 polished rock samples, such as turquoise, amethyst, rose quartz, lemon jade, and more PLUS a surprise rock that they will unearth in the dig kit. The field guide introduces easy-to-follow STEM content, including fun facts and jokes. Then go exploring to find rocks from home that you can decorate with the included paint and googly eyes.

Klutz: Tropical Tie-Dye Soap: Make four custom decorative soaps, right in your kitchen! The kit includes a sudsy soap base that melts easily in a microwave or double boiler. Add the custom scent, then pour the soap into the molds of your choice. You'll also find for using the included materials in creative ways and whipping up spa recipes with ingredients you can find in your kitchen.

Klutz: Rainbow Daydream Soap: Make four custom decorative soaps right in your kitchen! The kit includes a sudsy soap base that melts easily in a microwave or double boiler. Add the custom scent, then pour the soap into the molds of your choice. You'll also find projects for using the included materials in creative ways and whipping up spa recipes with ingredients you can find in your kitchen.

Klutz: Sew Mini Garden: We're digging these four gardens full of felt friends! Watch your sewing skills bloom as you stitch 18 different plants and garden friends. You'll learn how to make cuddly cacti, sweet succulents, cute carnivorous plants, a variety of bugs, and even a little garden gnome.

Klutz: Sun Catchers: Color your room with sunshine! Using the colorful, translucent sheets, create no-glass stained glass from over 60 trendy designs with shapes like unicorns, UFOs, whales, and more! Kids will get to mimic the real process of making stained glass: create a mosaic with the translucent sheets, and "soder" them together with black puffy paint to fill in the gaps. Turn your creations into mesmerizing mobiles with the included beads, cord, metallic paper straw, and suction cups.

I hope that you enjoyed this glimpse into our Rainy Day Bookshelf! Texas tornado season is coming up, so it's nice to have books and crafts to keep little ones busy when the weather is bad.