Simply Jaimie

 Some of my favorite childhood memories include my cousins. They were the people who made ordinary family gatherings unforgettable. We laughed until our stomachs hurt, stayed up far too late, created inside jokes only we understood, and made memories that still make us smile years later. While our lives may have taken us in different directions, we share something no one else does—we remember the same people, the same places, and many of the same stories. That's one of the beautiful things about cousins. They often remember details we have forgotten. They can tell a story from a completely different perspective or fill in pieces of our family history that would otherwise be lost. Family history isn't only found in old records and photographs. Sometimes it's waiting in a conversation with someone who grew up right alongside you. These 25 questions are designed to help you reconnect with your cousins, preserve your shared memories, and uncover stories that deserve to be passe...

What is your favorite memory with one of your cousins? Today is my cousin's birthday! Although we live on different continents now, I still loved seeing photos of his birthday celebration pop up on social media. Distance may change how often we see the people we love, but it doesn't change the memories we've shared or the place they hold in our family story. Reading Summer Is for Cousins reminded me that some of the best family memories aren't made during big events. They're made on ordinary summer days—playing games, eating meals together, staying up too late, and simply enjoying one another's company. Those moments might seem small at the time, but they often become the stories we carry with us for a lifetime. When I was visiting my family in England, my cousin, aunt, niece, and I went to see Tangled at the cinema. While we were waiting for my aunt and niece to come out of the restroom, I decided it would be funny to walk down the escalator that was going ...

Every family has traditions that become part of who they are. Some happen every Christmas. Others happen every Sunday afternoon. And some are so ordinary that we don't realize how meaningful they are until they're no longer part of our routine. Those traditions become more than things we do. They become the way we remember the people we love. Bread Days by Hannah Chung is a beautiful reminder that even after someone is gone, the traditions they began can continue to bring comfort, connection, and joy. Nara looks forward to bread days with her Papa more than anything. Together they mix, fold, score, and bake fresh sourdough, filling their home with warmth, conversation, and anticipation as they wait for the loaf to rise. When Papa dies, bread days come to an unexpected end. The kitchen feels quiet, and the familiar routine that once brought so much happiness now reminds Nara of everything she misses. But as she begins caring for the sourdough starter she and Papa created to...

 As parents, we spend so much time making memories with our children that we sometimes forget to share the stories that came before them. They know your favorite color, what you like to eat, and maybe even your favorite movie. But do they know what you dreamed of becoming when you were ten? Why you chose their name? What your grandparents were like? Or what you prayed for before they were born? The truth is, there are countless things your children will never know unless you tell them. Not because they don't care, but because they don't know to ask. One day they'll wonder what your childhood was like. They'll want to know how you met their other parent, what life looked like before smartphones, what made you laugh, what broke your heart, and what shaped the person who raised them. By then, you may not remember every detail—or they may no longer have the chance to ask. That's why it's worth sharing your story now. These 25 prompts are an invitation to preserve th...

 Every family has things that are passed from one generation to the next. Sometimes it's a recipe. Sometimes it's a tradition. Sometimes it's a story. And sometimes, it's a song. Music has a remarkable way of helping us remember the people we love. Long after conversations have ended, a familiar melody can bring back a face, a place, or a feeling in an instant. That's one of the reasons I loved Holding On by Sophia N. Lee. It reminds us that family history isn't only found in photographs or journals. It's also found in the songs that fill our homes. Lola's house is always filled with music. Sammy Davis Jr. plays in the morning, Dean Martin in the afternoon, and old Tagalog love songs drift through the house each evening. Along with the music comes one piece of wisdom that Lola often shares with her granddaughter: "If you want to hold on, you gotta sing your songs." Her granddaughter treasures those words, tucking both the music and Lola...

 "My name is my heritage, given by elders to carry their hopes and dreams. It shapes who I am now and who I will become." Before children learn where their family came from or hear stories about their ancestors, they usually learn one thing first, their name. It's one of the first gifts they're given, and often one of the first ways they begin to understand who they are. Whether our name was chosen because it belonged to a grandparent, reflects our family's heritage, or simply because our parents loved it, every name has a story worth telling. My Name Is Ai Lin by Maria Wen Adcock is a beautiful reminder that our names are something to celebrate. Ai Lin loves her name, but she becomes discouraged when classmates and teachers struggle to pronounce it correctly. She begins to wonder if having a different name would make life easier. With encouragement from her family, Ai Lin discovers the beauty and meaning of her name and finds the confidence to patiently teach ...

I only have one memory of my grandad. I was six years old, eagerly waiting for Mum and Dad to arrive home with my brand-new baby sister. In our family, there was a little tradition. Each of us children would sit on the couch while the new baby was passed from one sibling to the next. We each got a turn to hold the baby for just a few seconds before passing them along. After my turn, the front door opened. My grandad walked into the house. He struggled with his health for as long as I could remember and was in constant pain, so it wasn't common for him to visit. As he stepped into the living room, he smiled and said, "Where's my little granddaughter?" That's it. I don't remember what happened after that. I don't remember whether he sat down to hold her, how long he stayed, or what anyone else said. I only remember that one sentence and the joy in his voice as he came through the door. Two months later, my grandad passed away. That single memory has ...

 What is something about yourself that reminds you of someone else in your family? One of the things I love most about Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho is how it celebrates seeing ourselves through the people who came before us. The young girl notices that her eyes look like her mother's, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. Instead of wishing she looked like everyone else, she learns to treasure the family resemblance that connects generations. Family history isn't just about the stories we tell—it's also about the pieces of ourselves we carry. A familiar smile, a laugh that sounds just like Grandpa's, curly hair from your mother, or the same kind eyes your grandmother had. These small connections remind us that we belong to something much bigger than ourselves. When I look in the mirror, I don't just see myself. I see my Nan's nose, my Dad's ears, and glimpses of my mother and great-grandmother looking back at me. Their features l...

There is something special about growing up surrounded by extended family. Cousins often become our first friends—the people we celebrate birthdays with, stay up late talking to during family reunions, and make memories alongside year after year. While childhood eventually gives way to adulthood, those shared experiences often become some of the stories we tell most often. These six picture books celebrate the unique bond between cousins and remind us that family history isn't only about looking back. It's also about the relationships our children are building today and the memories they'll carry with them for the rest of their lives. Dozens of Cousins by Shutta Crum and illustrated by David Catrow A joyful celebration of a large extended family gathering where cousins of all ages come together to play, laugh, eat, and make memories. Through lively rhyming text and cheerful illustrations, the story captures the excitement and energy that only a house full of cousins can bri...

What ordinary object has bro ught you comfort over the years? What memories does it hold, and why is it meaningful to you? Some of the objects we treasure most aren't valuable because of what they are, but because of the people and memories they remind us of. A worn quilt, a favorite mug, a well-loved stuffed animal, or an old recipe book may seem ordinary to someone else, yet to us they hold years of laughter, comfort, and love. In One Little Bag , a simple paper bag becomes one of those ordinary treasures. As it is used again and again, it quietly witnesses everyday moments and the passing of time. Though made of something as simple as paper, it becomes part of a family's story. Like so many meaningful objects in our own homes, its greatest value isn't in what it is made of, but in the memories it carries. That's one of the reasons I think this is such a wonderful book to add to a family history children's library. Although it was created with a message of conserv...

Every now and then, I come across a picture book that captures my heart before I've even finished reading the first few pages. The Little Blue Cottage by Kelly Jordan was one of those books. I was immediately drawn in by its beautiful artwork. Every page felt warm, nostalgic, and full of little details that invited me to linger just a little longer. By the time I reached the end, I wasn't just in love with the illustrations, I had fallen in love with the story too. The Little Blue Cottage tells the story of a much-loved seaside cottage that has been part of one family's life for generations. Year after year, the cottage welcomes family members back through its doors as they celebrate holidays, mark milestones, and create treasured memories together. As time passes, the cottage weathers storms, seasons, and change, quietly witnessing the story of the family that loves it. With heartfelt storytelling and stunning illustrations, Kelly Jordan reminds readers that the places w...

 Have you ever noticed how quickly a place can bring back a memory? The smell of fresh bread can transport you to your grandmother's kitchen. A porch swing can remind you of long summer evenings. Even hearing an old screen door slam might bring you back to a house you haven't stepped inside for years. Our homes hold so much more than furniture and photographs. They are where birthdays are celebrated, traditions are born, hard conversations are had, and ordinary days quietly become the stories our families tell for generations. When we think about preserving family history, it's easy to focus on people—and rightly so. But the places where those people gathered matter too. Our homes shape us. They become the backdrop to childhood adventures, holiday memories, family dinners, and everyday moments that often seem insignificant until years have passed. Whether you're thinking about the home where you grew up or the one you're raising your family in today, these 25 questi...

 Home is one of the first places where our stories begin. It's where family traditions are created, everyday memories are made, and the people we love shape who we become. Whether we live in a farmhouse, an apartment, a busy city, or a quiet neighborhood, home becomes part of our family history. These six picture books celebrate home in different ways. Some explore the homes we live in, others remind us that home is found in the people we love, and a few invite us to discover how families around the world create places of belonging. Together, they offer wonderful opportunities to start conversations about your own family's story. The Blue House by Phoebe Wahl When Leo and his dad prepares to leave the only home he has ever known, he struggles to say goodbye to the rooms, the garden, and the familiar places that have been part of his everyday life. As he wanders through the house one last time, he realizes that while a house may be left behind, the love and memories created the...