Simply Jaimie

One of my favorite places to find family history inspiration is the children's section of the library. Every week, I come home with a stack of books, hoping to discover stories that spark conversations about family, identity, memories, traditions, and the people who have shaped our lives. As a family historian, I am always looking for books that help children connect with their own story. Some books inspire meaningful conversations. Some introduce important family history concepts. Others are simply wonderful stories that help children see themselves and their families in new ways. That's what inspired this new series: Library Roundup: Buy, Borrow, or Leave on the Shelf . In each roundup, I'll share recent library reads and give my verdict about whether I would: buy, borrow again from the library , or leave on the shelf next time . Along the way, I'll highlight the family history themes, discussion opportunities, and activities that each book might inspire. Whether you...

Family history helps us understand where we came from and the experiences that shaped the lives of those who came before us. It preserves stories of courage, sacrifice, resilience, and hope so they are not forgotten. Juneteenth is a day of remembrance that commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation finally reached enslaved people in Texas—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. It is a celebration of freedom, but it is also an opportunity to learn about the experiences, struggles, and triumphs of those whose stories are an important part of American history. Children's books can help bring these stories to life. Through the experiences of real people and fictional characters inspired by history, young readers can develop empathy, appreciation, and a deeper understanding of the generations who came before them. These books remind us that every family has a story worth remembering and that preserving those stories helps ensure they are neve...

Many of us have ancestors who left behind everything they knew in search of a better future. They crossed oceans, traveled great distances, learned new customs, and faced uncertainty with remarkable courage. While children may struggle to understand those sacrifices, stories can help bring those experiences to life. This is one of the reasons I chose to spotlight One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Told in verse, the novel follows three girls traveling west on the Oregon Trail. Each girl carries her own hopes, fears, and dreams as she leaves behind the familiar and journeys toward an uncertain future. As their wagon train moves across rivers, prairies, and unfamiliar landscapes, the girls face the realities of pioneer life. There are moments of friendship, wonder, disappointment, fear, and loss. They encounter difficult choices, changing relationships, and the uncertainty that comes with leaving everything familiar behind. Through it all, readers become deeply invested in their st...

 Some of the most treasured family stories begin with a simple memory. The way Dad laughed at his own jokes. The Saturday morning routines. The advice he gave. The traditions he created. The quiet ways he showed his love and support. Too often, we assume we will always remember these moments. Yet as the years pass, the details can begin to fade. Taking time to record our memories helps preserve not only the stories themselves but also the lessons, values, and relationships that shaped our lives. These memory prompts are designed to help you reflect on your relationship with your dad and capture the moments that matter most. Whether your memories are funny, meaningful, ordinary, or profound, each one is a piece of your family story worth preserving. Choose one prompt or work through them all. You may be surprised by the memories that come rushing back and the stories waiting to be shared with future generations. to download/print the memory prompt activity page simply click here or ...

 One of the reasons I love children's books is that they help us see family history through the eyes of a story. Facts and dates tell us when someone lived, but stories help us understand who they were and the choices they made. A Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say tells the story of the author's grandfather, who left Japan and traveled to the United States. Along the way, he fell in love with different places, experienced new opportunities, and eventually built a life between two worlds. Although he loved America, he also missed his home in Japan. Throughout his life, he found himself longing for whichever place he was not currently living. One of my favorite parts of A Grandfather's Journey comes at the end of the book. As the grandson grows older, he finds himself following in his grandfather's footsteps. He too travels between Japan and the United States and discovers that he loves both places. Through his own experiences, he begins to understand his grandfath...

One of the things I love most about family history is that it helps us preserve the moments that might otherwise be forgotten. While we cannot place memories in glass jars like Freda does, we can record them in journals, photographs, voice recordings, and family stories. Many of the memories I treasure most are not major life events. They are ordinary moments: playing board games with my grandma, riding home in the basket of my dad's Royal Mail bike, or gathering around the dinner table with family. At the time, they seemed small. Looking back, they became part of my family's story. Memory Jars reminds us that family history is not only about preserving the big milestones. It is also about capturing the everyday moments that tell the story of who we are and the people we love. Freda loves collecting memories. She carefully stores special moments in jars because she wants to remember everything exactly as it happened. As her collection grows, she begins filling jars with memori...