Recommended Reads from the Children's Collection @ the Education Library

Five-year-old Anh becomes enraged when his grandfather asks him to stop playing and come to the dinner table. The grandfather helps Anh fully experience all stages of anger by suggesting that he go to his room and, "sit with his anger." Anh and his anger work through feelings together with humor and honesty to find a way to constructively release their thoughts and emotions and to reach resolve with Anh's grandfather.

Charlotte likes quiet. But wherever Charlotte goes, she is surrounded by noise, noise, noise-her yipping dog, Otto; the squeaky, creaky swings; the warbling, wailing sirens. Even in the library, children yammer and yell. But in the park, Charlotte discovers a quiet place where she never would have imagined! Charlotte and the Quiet Place shows how a child learns and practices mindful breathing on her own and experiences the beauty of silence.

Little Crab and Very Big Crab live in a tiny rock pool near the sea. Today they're going for a dip in the big ocean. This picture book shows that sometimes a gentle "don't worry, I'm here" can keep tentative little crabs sidestepping ahead -- and help them discover the brilliant worlds that await when they take the plunge.

Poor Donut is feeling anxious. School is about to start again, and Donut can't stop all sorts of worries from filling her round donut head. She's tired of her friends and family saying, "Don't worry!" As if it's that easy! Can her new friend, Cookie, help her find ways to manage her anxiety?

Refusing to cry even though everyone cries sometimes, a tough little phoenix receives help from his reassuring guardians, Sun, Wind, and Cloud, while learning how to express his feelings.

Beatrice Bottomwell has NEVER (not once!) made a mistake. She never forgets her math homework, she never wears mismatched socks, and she ALWAYS wins the yearly talent show at school. In fact, the entire town calls her The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes! One day, the inevitable happens: Beatrice makes a huge mistake in front of everyone!

A celebration of mindfulness, meditation, and enjoying each moment.

This book is about a real child named Josie with anxiety and real experiences she's gone through. This book is intended to give a voice to Josie and others like her who have something to say, but are unable to express it. Young children all over the world are at an impressionable age and with answers to their questions about others who are different they could learn to become kindhearted, understanding, and accepting children.

A girl who feels stretched too thin by homework, soccer try-outs, concerns at home, and much more learns some techniques from her mother for dealing with stress in healthy and helpful ways.

Love means showing kindness, living with gratitude, and taking care of our minds and bodies. Letting our hearts lead the way can help move us closer to a better world. Grounded in mindfulness and wellness, I Am Love asks readers to look inward when they feel afraid, angry, hurt, or sad. When a storm is brewing inside us and the skies grow dark, the transformative power of love lets the light back in.

There are a lot of things to be afraid of in this world: spiders, the dark, being alone. In this picture book, acclaimed author/illustrator Laura Vaccaro Seeger shows that what seems scary at first, can become magical. It all depends on perspective.

When a child wakes up late one day, it's only the first in a series of things to go terribly awry. But the people around them show them that what's important is being kind to yourself and getting through rough days. Because, after all, tomorrow is a fresh start.

Today is a big day! Today, Lena starts kindergarten. She is very excited. But there's just one problem... Lena's shoes are nervous. Lena doesn't want to miss out on her first day of school, but she can't go without her favorite shoes! How can she convince them to be brave?

Marcy wanted to be happy. But all her other feelings kept showing up-and at the worst times! Her feelings were there as soon as she opened her eyes each morning, and they followed her around throughout the day. Some days all these feelings just felt like a little too much and she wanted to hide! Then one day when Marcy's feelings disappear, she learns that her feelings don't have to control her, and they might even have a function. Maybe having all the feels might not be such a bad thing.

Sasha has one speed--fast. She loves to do lots of things, all at once, as fast as possible. Mr. Sloth has one speed--slow. He loves to do things one at a time, at a nice, easy pace. Can Mr. Sloth's mindful ways teach Sasha to slow down and enjoy life?

"Good things happen in the ordinary minutes of an ordinary day." This is a book about mindfulness. About relishing the magic of the here and now. About enjoying the extraordinary unfoldings of an ordinary day. Moving from morning to night, the narrator becomes, by turns, boy or girl, of ever--changing ethnicity and ability, inhabiting city, country, or suburb. They are all children everywhere, opening themselves to the gift of time.

This is my favorite cloud. . .because it's the one I am watching. This is my favorite tree. . .because it's the one where I'm swinging. This is my favorite tooth. . .because it's the one that is missing. Follow a little girl as she takes you on a tour through all of her favorite things, from the holes she digs to the hugs she gives.

Outside is waiting, the most patient playmate of all. The most generous friend. The most miraculous inventor. This picture book shows us how our world is made and the many ways Outside comes in to help and heal us, and reminds us that we are all part of a much greater universe.

Pilar loves to dance. She pliés while brushing her teeth. She leaps when hurrying to ballet class. But when tryouts for her favorite ballet are held, Pilar is anxious. Auditioning makes her whole body feel scared. But by using some of the coping techniques she's learned and focusing on her love for ballet, she is able to persevere.

As a young girl gently questions her depressed father, he offers direct answers that help her understand what he is going through.

When something sad happens, Taylor doesn't know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn't feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that's not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to act, and one by one they fail to offer comfort. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen . . . which is just what Taylor needs.

A young boy feels alone with his anxiety. He isn't fitting in well at school. His grades are slipping. He's even lashing out at those who love him. The boy's worries manifest as tiny beings that crowd around him constantly, overwhelming him and even gnawing away at his very self. This wordless graphic picture book gets to the heart of childhood anxiety and opens the way for dialogue about acceptance, vulnerability, and the universal experience of worry.

This cookie has never felt like a smart cookie no matter how hard she tries, especially in comparison to all the clever cupcakes and brilliant rolls in the bakery. Will a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of confidence be enough to help her learn that perfect scores and having all the answers aren't the only ingredients for intelligence?

Two siblings wake up in two very different moods; the older one cheerful and lively, the younger feeling sad and irritable. The big sister negotiates and cajoles, tries everything she can think of to cheer her little sister up, but nothing works. It's only when little sister's gloomy mood reaches a boiling point that the older sibling tries a different tactic. Together, they navigate the little sister's grim, messy feelings until the siblings are able to play.

A powerful picture book about the ocean of feelings inside all of us. Whether you are mad, sad, scared, or lost in the dark, there's always hope--a spark of light to lead you back home.

Going to the beach is exciting. But it can also be busy. And loud. Patience, understanding, and a soothing exercise saves the beach day when excitement turns to sensory overload.

Once upon a time there lived a wolf who lost his huff and his puff. It was a BIG, BAD problem! One morning, the wolf came upon a peaceful little yogi doing sun salutations. The wolf wanted to huff and puff and blooow her hut down into a big pile of straw. But instead the yogi suggested, "Let's meditate on that!" Soon the wolf met a second yogi, and then a third. He may have lost his huff and puff-but with the help of three new yogi friends, can the wolf find his breath?

Making friends can be tough, but this rhyming picture book will help navigate difficulties of shyness and social anxiety.

Kim and her mother, who suffers from depression, learn that in order to support and truly take care of each other, they need to be tough and that sometimes being tough means showing vulnerability and asking for help.

Violet Shrink doesn't like parties. Or bashes, or gatherings. Lots of people and lots of noise make Violet's tummy ache and her hands sweat. She would much rather spend time on her own, watching the birds in her backyard, reading comics or listening to music through her purple headphones. When Violet learns that the Shrink family reunion is fast approaching, she musters up the courage to have a talk with her dad.

This extraordinary book focuses on the everyday moments that slow the world down for us: a hug from someone we haven't seen in a long time, the soft spot behind a cat's ear, a ladybug landing on your arm. And in the end, the answer to the question of what's sweeter rings truest of all. The perfect gift for occasions ranging from celebrations like birthdays and graduation to a just-because gift appreciating someone. Pass this book to the sweetest around you.

Cora is constantly worrying about everything. Because of this, the Whatifs love her. They sneak up to her and give her all kinds of doubts: big or small, silly or frightening, likely or impossible. As she prepares for an upcoming piano recital, the Whatifs cling on tighter and drag her down, making her anxious about messing up during the concert. Will she be able to change her worry-filled thoughts into hopeful ones?

Author Crescent Dragonwagon and Julián Is a Mermaid illustrator Jessica Love pair up in this powerful new edition of a classic picture book that asks a tough question and answers it with humanity, humor, and grace In this beautiful new edition of a timeless picture book classic, a child asks, Will it be okay? That bee sting, that thunderstorm, those powerful feelings, losing a loved one. Author Crescent Dragonwagon and Julián Is a Mermaid illustrator Jessica Lovepair up in this powerful new edition of a classic picture book that asks a tough question and answers it with humanity, humor, and grace. Will it be okay? Yes--yes, it will.

A girl tells about a misunderstood dragon as a way to understand her mother's unpredictable emotions and reveal her love for her.

Llewellyn does not like to feel afraid or sad, angry, lonely, or embarrassed. And so he comes up with a brilliant plan- he tucks each of his feelings into jars and hides them away where they won't bother him anymore. But when he gets in trouble in class, Llewellyn finds he needs to put away excitement too. And when joy is quickly followed by disappointment, he decides to get rid of joy as well. After a while, Llewellyn walks around not feeling much of anything at all. And what happens when his emotions refuse to be bottled up any longer?

Livy is already having trouble fitting in as the new girl at school--and then there's Viola. Viola is Livy's anxiety brought to life, a shadowy twin that only Livy can see or hear. Livy tries to push back against Viola's relentless judgment, but nothing seems to work until she strikes up new friendships at school. Livy hopes that Viola's days are numbered. But when tensions arise both at home and at school, Viola rears her head stronger than ever. Only when Livy learns how to ask for help and face her anxiety does she finally figure out living with Viola.

Rahul Kapoor is heading into seventh grade in a small town in Indiana. The start of middle school is making him feel increasingly anxious, so his favorite person in the whole world, his grandfather, Bhai, gives him some well-meaning advice: Find one thing you're really good at and become the BEST at it. Those four little words sear themselves into Rahul's brain. With his best friend, Chelsea, by his side, Rahul is ready to crush this challenge.... But what if he discovers he isn't the best at anything?

Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He's about to take his first-ever trip to Iran, and it's pretty overwhelming-especially when he's also dealing with clinical depression, a disapproving dad, and a chronically anemic social life. In Iran, he meets Sohrab, the boy next door who changes everything. Darius has never had a true friend before, but now he's spending his days with Sohrab playing soccer, eating rosewater ice cream, and sitting together for hours in their special place, a rooftop overlooking the Yazdi skyline. Sohrab calls him Darioush-the original Persian version of his name-and Darius has never felt more like himself than he does now that he's Darioush to Sohrab.

A sixteen-year-old boy wrestling with depression and anxiety tries to cope by writing poems, reciting Walt Whitman, hugging trees, and figuring out why his sister has been kicked out of the house.

No one can figure out what Gwendolyn Rogers's problem is--not her mom, or her teachers, or any of the many therapists she's seen. But Gwendolyn knows she doesn't have just one thing wrong with her: she has fifty-four. So Gwendolyn needs a plan, because if she doesn't get these fifty-four things under control, she's not going to be able to go to horse camp this summer with her half-brother, Tyler. But Tyler can't help her because there's only one thing "wrong" with him: ADHD. And her best friend Hettie can't help her because there's nothing wrong with Hettie. She's perfect. So Gwendolyn is hopeless until she remembers the one thing that helped her mother when her own life was out of control. Or actually, the twelve things.

Meet Abbie Wu. Abbie is in crisis--and not just because she's starting middle school or because she's stuck in a family that doesn't quite get her or because everyone seems to have a Thing except her. Abbie Wu is always in crisis.

After an entire summer trying to figure out how to go back to being the person she was before her depression and anxiety diagnosis, twelve-year-old Pluto finds out--with the help of the Hayden Planetarium hotline, a new tutor, and a new friend--that there is no old or new Pluto, there's just Pluto, growing up

A humorous account of a New York City teenager's battle with depression and his time spent in a psychiatric hospital.

When Victoria Cruz wakes up in the psychiatric ward of a Texas hospital after her failed suicide attempt, she still has no desire to live, but as the weeks pass, and she meets Dr. Desai and three of the other patients, she begins to reflect on the reasons why she feels like a loser compared with the rest of her family, and to see a path ahead where she can make a life of her own.

Moon's depression is overwhelming. Therapy doesn't help, and Moon is afraid that their mom hates them because they're sad. Moon's only escape is traveling to the spirit realms every night, where they hope they'll never return to the world of the living again. The spirit realm is where they have their one and only friend, Wolf, and where they're excited to experience an infinite number of adventures. But when the realm is threatened, it's up to Moon to save the spirit world. With the help of celestial beings and guard­ians, Moon battles monsters and shadows, and through their journey, they begin to learn that a magical adventure of love and acceptance awaits them in the world of the living, too.

Eleven-year-old Jack thought he had outgrown his imaginary friend, George--until his dad also disappears from his life. His mom's bipolar disorder isn't being properly treated, so while in the throes of a manic episode, she ditches Jack with his aunt, uncle, and cousins. Jack decides that only George can help him figure out where people go when others stop believing in them--and how Jack can put his family back together.

Eleven-year-old Cooper Cameron likes things to be in order. When he eats, he chews every bite three times on each side. Sometimes he washes his hands in the air with invisible water. He invented these rituals after the death of his beloved grandfather to protect others he loves from terrible harm. But when Cooper's behavior drives a wedge between his parents, and his relationship with his older sister, Caddie, begins to fray, his mother's only solution is to take Cooper and Caddie to the family cabin for the summer.

Ten-year-old Shady Cook struggles with selective mutism caused by anxiety. His best friend, Pouya, understands--despite being the class clown, he has his own hang-ups lurking just below the surface. Shady's parents, however, are eager to find a way to help their son start talking more, so when a live duck waddles into their lives and Shady starts to respond, they reluctantly decide to give Svenrietta the emotional support duck a chance.

A dual-narrative romance that explores themes of mental health and self-acceptance follows the experiences of a teen filmmaker and an aspiring school paper editor who work together to upgrade and promote a struggling Chinese restaurant.

Told in gentle, rhyming couplets, this collection of stories presents relatable moments of unease and the strength found in conquering fears. A roaring nighttime thunderstorm, the first day of preschool, and a doctor's visit, in turn, encourage young readers to forge their own paths of strength in times of distress.

Aza Holmes never intended to pursue the disappearance of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there's a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Pickett's son Davis. Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

Seventeen year-old Jonah Daniels has lived in Verona Cove, California, his whole life, and only one thing has ever changed: his father used to be alive, and now he is not. With a mother lost in a deep bout of depression, Jonah and his five siblings struggle to keep up their home and the restaurant their dad left behind. But at the start of summer, a second change rolls in: Vivi Alexander, the new girl in town. Vivi is in love with life. Charming and unfiltered, she refuses to be held down by the medicine she's told should make her feel better. After meeting Jonah, she slides into the Daniels' household seamlessly, winning over each sibling with her imagination and gameness. But it's not long before Vivi's zest for life begins to falter. Soon her adventurousness becomes all-out danger-seeking.

Collin is always prepared for something to go wrong. Ever since he lost his mom in a car accident, he's been journaling about how to overcome things like avalanches, riptides, or even a bad case of halitosis. Meanwhile, Collin's father grows more distant by the day, and has started hoarding things throughout their house. Determined to hide his home life from his friends, Collin navigates middle school alongside the hilarious and clueless Liam, and Georgia, who Collin may have feelings for. Can Collin learn to be vulnerable around those he loves, even when he can't control every possible scenario?

Middle schooler Liberty likes to make her own maps of the stars, in fact she is obsessed with them, especially since her family is falling apart; her parents are getting divorced, her nine-year-old sister will barely leave the house and carries a stuffed tiger at all times, her father is suffering from depression, but will not talk about it, and the brothers down the street, once friends, have turned into bullies--so when a tiny meteorite literally falls in her lap it is like a sign, but a sign of what?

In this timely and moving novel in verse, a preteen girl navigates seventh grade while facing mental health challenges. A hopeful, poetic story about learning to advocate for the help and understanding you deserve.

Thirty-three actors, athletes, writers, and artists offer essays, lists, comics, and illustrations that explore a wide range of topics: their personal experiences with mental illness, how we do and don't talk about mental health, help for better understanding how every person's brain is wired differently, and what, exactly, might make someone crazy.

All day long, you breathe -- in and out, in and out -- without even thinking about it. But did you know that you can play with your breath, use it to take you on an adventure? All you have to do is find a comfy spot and close your eyes.

Read aloud and breathe along with this sweet story teaching children how to navigate powerful emotions like anger, fear, sadness, confusion, anxiety, and loneliness. Simple guided practices, like imagining you are a tree blowing in the wind, follow each story to teach children how to apply mindfulness techniques when they need them the most.

Meditation does a body good, and can even help kids as young as four or five. This practical guide is gentle, clear, and a pleasure to use. Kids will learn how to focus on their breath, on the sensations in their body, and on the sounds around them to help them relax, settle their busy minds, and understand their emotions.

From hormones to homework, parents to peers, health issues to bad habits, life can be a pressure cooker leading to anxiety and even thoughts of suicide. How can we find relief? This book guides readers through how to get started with meditation as well as provides specific exercises for examining emotions, managing stress, checking social media habits and wellness routines, and setting intentions to increase happiness.

Do YOU have the magic breath Let's see...Take a deeeeeep breath in...and BLOW it out...and like magic, you can feel better just by breathing! Sometimes it's hard to feel happy. But this interactive picture book shows us how to breathe along as we learn how to make angry or sad thoughts disappear.

This book draws examples from the clouds and the cosmos, the seafloor and the surface of our skin, to show how we are never alone: we are always surrounded and supported by nature. Whether it's gravity holding us tight; our lungs breathing oxygen synthesized by plants; the countless microorganisms that build our immunity; or the whales whose waste fertilizes the plankton that feed the fish we eat: nature touches every aspect of how we live.