Book recs: Reading with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Hiii, Children’s Museum mamas! Whether you’re a local museum pro or visiting Indy to scope out the museum for the first time, read on for all our literary recs to extend the magic of your visit.
A great book can add a valuable extra layer of meaning to an in-person experience or keep the learning going after you return home. Fortunately, there are stellar books that correspond perfectly to exhibits at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (TCM). Pro tip from us: several are at the InfoZone branch of the Indianapolis Public Library, located on Level 2 of the museum, so that you can combine trips!
For the older kids, a biography of Ryan White, Anne Frank, Malala Yousafzi, or Ruby Bridges can let them further explore the stories they saw in the Power of Children exhibit. The Who Is…? series has volumes about Anne Frank and Malala Yousafzi, or you can read the autobiographies of Ruby Bridges and Ryan White.
PREP FOR YOUR VISIT: Peek our first-timer’s guide to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
For younger kids who perhaps want to learn about the same things as their older siblings, check out these picture books:
(Also, watch for Hope for Ryan White, a picture book for 5-8-year-olds that comes out next spring!)
Debuting this month at TCM before touring the country, Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See will be a powerful exhibit about his life, murder, and subsequent memorial vandalism, as well as a call for racial reconciliation. If you’d like to use books to continue the conversation about Emmett at home, A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson is a powerful narrative poem that describes the events surrounding his murder. Once you’ve read the poem, Choosing Brave is a picture book biography covering the decades after as his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, used his story to call for change.
For the artistic kids who love “Fireworks of Glass,” check out World of Glass: The Art of Dale Chihuly. Perfect for older elementary kiddos who want to dive deep into the world of Chihuly or a younger kid who just wants to see lots of pictures of his works. If you have a child who has struggled with mental illness, Dale’s story might be extra helpful - he has bipolar disorder and is open about his struggles and successes.
Beyond these, there are general titles you could use to bring a little museum magic home, like a great book about dinosaurs, trains, carousels, or favorite athletes. (And don’t forget Larry Gets Lost at the Museum, all about the museum itself!)