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 yo...

 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 yo...

In 1912, my great-great-grandfather Luigi made the long journey from Northern Italy to California. He arrived at Ellis Island on December 8, 1912, alone, with no family traveling beside him and no loved ones waiting to greet him. Although the exact reasons he left Italy are unclear, it is likely that economic hardships played a role. Like many immigrants of his time, he came seeking new opportunities and the hope of a better future. Luigi left behind his wife and three children with the promise that they would join him later. He was not completely alone, however. Relatives who had immigrated earlier had already settled in California and would help him begin a new life. Like many Italians making the journey to America, he carried dreams of a better future—not only for himself, but for generations to come. When I think about the courage it must have taken to leave everything familiar behind, I cannot help but wonder what he carried with him. Certainly he packed clothing and a few persona...

After dinner, we would pull out one of two games Grandma loved to play: Mexican Train or Cards and Marbles (a fancy version of Sorry). It didn't matter which game we chose because Grandma was only after one thing: chaos. Winning didn't seem to matter much to her. In fact, she would happily sabotage her own game if it meant messing up someone else's. During Mexican Train, it often felt like she intentionally played on a train she knew someone else needed. In Cards and Marbles, you could hear the tapping of her fingernails on the wooden board as she calculated how many spaces away she was from landing on your marble and sending you all the way back to the start. There was always a healthy fear when playing Cards and Marbles with Grandma for two reasons. First, you never wanted to be paired up with her because you knew you were going to lose. Second, you never wanted to sit across from her because eventually the tapping would begin. It started softly, much like the da-dum, da-...

When we think of family history, we often think of ancestors, pedigree charts, and generations connected by blood. Yet some of the people who have the greatest impact on our lives are not related to us at all. They are the friends who stood by us, the neighbors who welcomed us, the teachers who believed in us, and the mentors who helped us become who we are. Though they may never appear on our family tree, they are an important part of our story. Swashby and the Sea is a gentle reminder that unexpected friendships can change our lives. Through kindness, companionship, and connection, people who begin as strangers can become family in all the ways that matter most. In Swashby and the Sea , Swashby enjoys a quiet and predictable life by the sea. He prefers solitude and is content spending his days alone. Everything changes when a young girl named Rose and her grandmother move in next door. Despite Swashby's attempts to keep his distance, Rose's kindness, persistence, and joyful ...

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the ability to see their grandparents as people rather than simply Grandma and Grandpa. It can be difficult for children to imagine that their grandparents were once their age. Yet understanding their stories can help children feel more connected to their family and the generations that came before them. This is one of the reasons I chose to spotlight The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm, a middle-grade novel that balances humor and heart while inviting children to consider what their grandparents might have been like as teenagers. The story follows Ellie, whose life is turned upside down when a teenage boy appears at her door claiming to be her grandfather. After discovering a way to reverse aging, Ellie's grandfather suddenly finds himself young again. As the two embark on a series of adventures, Ellie begins to see her grandfather in a completely new light. No longer just Grandpa, he becomes a curious, determined, and...