After the excitement of the holidays and the fireworks celebrations that come with the new year, your kids can probably use a little quiet time to regroup and focus on getting back to school or back to their routine.

Quiet time can be an important time to process new information or learn new skills. Reading can be an ideal quiet activity. If you read aloud with your children, it can be a perfect time to discuss taking turns, asking questions, or not interrupting. I’ve selected books with quiet themes. For younger children, these themes include developing listening skills and learning to interpret their responses to different social situations. For older children, I’ve included selections about secrecy and when it’s not appropriate to remain silent. Enjoy!

Quiet Loud by Leslie Patricelli – Kids earn about quiet and loud by comparing opposites. When are you quiet and when are you loud? There are times for both. How can you learn the difference? For ages 1-3

Calm Down Time by Elizabeth Verdick – this book helps small children, and their caregivers find ways to calm down after a meltdown. Rhythmic texts and warm illustrations help toddlers learn how to find acceptable ways release their feelings and calm down. For ages 1-3

An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston – Kids learn fun and interesting scientific facts about eggs in this witty and colorfully illustrated book. For ages 2-6

The Story Orchestra by Jessica Courtney-Tickle – Follow Anna along as she explores the four seasons through music. Kids can press buttons to hear classical works by Vivaldi during each season of the year. Introduce your child to classical music and teach them valuable listening skills. For ages 2-6 – My grandson has this book and loves it!

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen – Late one winter night a little girl and her dad go owling. They walk in silence taking in the beauty of the night. The only sound is her father’s call to the owl. Will it answer? It’s a lovely story about the relationship between father and daughter and their love of nature. For ages 3-8

Listening to My Body by Gabi Garcia – Kids don’t always know how to interpret what they are feeling and understand the physical responses of their bodies to emotional stimuli. This book encourages kids to listen to their body when they are scared, happy, excited, or upset, so they can learn to understand and process those feelings. For ages 3-8

My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook – Louis always interrupts. He can’t seem to help himself, but when other people begin interrupting when he is speaking, Louis learns how it feels. He decides to find ways to contain his excitement, let others speak, and wait his turn. For ages 4-7

Quiet Ninja by Mary Nhin – Kids are full of questions and get excited about new experiences. This book helps kids learn to remain calm in quiet places and during unsettling times. For ages 4-8

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk – Twelve-year-old Crow was abandoned as an infant and set adrift on the sea. She was rescued and raised by Osh, the man who found her, on an isolated island. Crow longs to know who she really is and if she has family, but will she have the courage to leave the safety of her island to find the answers to her questions? For ages 10-12

Good Girls Stay Quiet by Jo Cassidy – Fifteen-year-old Cora has a secret she can only share with her best and only friend, a stuffed elephant, but she writes about it in her secret journal. Cora’s life and well-being are dictated by Daddy’s rules – get good grades, stay out of trouble, and never make friends, do what Daddy says, and never make him mad or prepare to be punished. One day her journal goes missing and she begins receiving blackmail notes in her school locker threatening to tell her secrets unless she does exactly as she’s told. The demands are outside her comfort zone and will anger Daddy, but she must never anger Daddy. For ages 12 and up