Children's Books and Family History: A Summer's Day

Sometimes the memories we cherish most are not the big vacations or special events, but rather the ordinary days that made up our childhood. The days that seemed unremarkable at the time—or even a little boring—often become the memories we hold closest to our hearts.

For me, a typical summer day consisted of watching cartoons, riding my bike around the neighborhood, and bravely stepping into the freezing-cold paddling pool. One summer, I made sure to wake up before my siblings so I could put my favorite movie into the VCR without hearing any objections.

I loved playing corner with my siblings. It was a simple game of throwing a ball toward the opposite curb and hoping it would hit just right and bounce back to you. Bonus points if you could catch it.

I am sure my mum heard plenty of "I'm bored" throughout those long summer days, but now I would give almost anything to relive just one more summer day.

That longing to return is what inspired today's memory prompt and activity. While we cannot relive the summers of our childhood, we can preserve the moments we are living today. By recording one ordinary summer day, you are creating a memory that your children, grandchildren, and future generations may treasure for years to come.

A Summer Day by Douglas Florian captures a family's day from sunrise to sunset. Through simple text and colorful illustrations, the book celebrates the ordinary moments that make up a summer day. There are no grand adventures or elaborate vacations—just the familiar sights, sounds, and experiences of summertime.

What makes this book unique is the way it captures an entire day. From morning to evening, readers are invited to slow down and notice the small moments that might otherwise be overlooked. Together, those moments create a snapshot of a family's life during one summer day.

As I read this book, I couldn't help but think about how meaningful it would be to preserve a day in our own lives. Not a special occasion or a holiday, but an ordinary summer day. The kind of day that feels routine now but may one day become a treasured memory.

What did a typical summer day look like when you were a child?

As you reflect on today's memory prompt, think about what a typical summer day looked like. What did you do? Who did you spend time with? What sights, sounds, and feelings come to mind?

You may discover that some of your most treasured memories were created on the most ordinary of days.

ACTIVITY: 

Inspired by A Summer Day, spend one day documenting your family's summer from sunrise to sunset.

Take photos throughout the day of the ordinary moments that make up your family's life. Capture breakfast around the table, children playing outside, family meals, chores, errands, favorite activities, evening walks, or bedtime routines.

At the end of the day, look through your photos and reflect on the moments you captured. Record your thoughts about the day and write down what you hope your children, grandchildren, and future generations will remember about this season of life.

You may feel inspired to share your day on social media, create a digital photo album, add the photos to a scrapbook, or upload them to the Memories section of FamilySearch. However you choose to preserve them, remember that today's ordinary moments are tomorrow's family history.

To use the activity page simply click here or on the image