Looking for picture books to support a lesson or discussion on resilience or perseverance? Check out one of these great titles!
What other books about resilience and perseverance do you love?
Looking for a curated list of mentor texts to use during an empathy and compassion unit or lesson? Look no further!
I also shared about one of my favorite (and new to me!) books on empathy and compassion on YouTube earlier this week. You can watch the video here.
What other books would you add to this list? I’m sure there are so many good ones out there that I don’t even know about!
Looking for a curated list of mentor texts to use during a kindness unit or lesson? Look no further!
I also shared about a few of my absolute favorite books on kindness on YouTube earlier this week. You can watch the video here.
What other books would you add to this list? I’m sure there are so many good ones out there that I don’t even know about!
If you haven’t heard of, or read, the “What Should Danny Do?” series by Ganit and Adir Levy, you need to check them out!
Written in a “Build Your Own Adventure” kind of way, each book contains 8-9 separate stories. As children read the book, they are given choices about how Danny (or now, Darla!) should react or proceed. Based on the choices they make, the story leads them down a different path.
The scenarios in the book are all ones that are familiar to kids – fighting over toys with a sibling, breaking something that belongs to someone else, standing up for others. With each choice they make, kids will begin to see how Danny’s actions determine the consequences.
This series really is a must-have for any school or home library! There are so many different social-emotional learning skills that are reinforced throughout the books, and the format of the books really encourages conversation between grown-ups and kids!
There’s a new favorite book in our house.
It all started about a week ago when I snagged this book at the library while searching for books to use in an SEL project I’m working on. I read it, liked it and then decided it didn’t exactly fit the section I intended it for so I set aside to return to the library the next day.
That night, my youngest asked me to read him some books before bedtime. He spied this book sitting on the end table so we sat down and read it. As soon as we finished, he asked me to read it again. Since that evening, I have probably read it to him 5-6 times.
Here’s the thing about this book…it doesn’t have fancy illustrations or rhyming text. Heck, it was originally published in 1973 so it’s even, dare I say, a bit outdated. What it does have, though, is a premise that is a bit silly and a bit ridiculous. More importantly, it has several great underlying themes and messages. It’s even great for kids who want to flex their logical-mathematical muscles.
So what is this magical book that captured the attention of my 5 year old? It’s The Brownstone by Paula Scher.
It’s all about 6 different families of animals that live in a three-story brownstone, and just as in real life, sometimes conflict arises between these neighbors. It’s Mr. Owl’s job, as the landlord, to help them all figure out how to live harmoniously in the brownstone.
The book really hits, not only on conflict resolution, but also on the themes of friendship, kindness, social problem solving and acceptance and diversity. There’s a LOT to pull out of this short, easy to read picture book! Plus, as I mentioned, your kiddos that enjoy a good puzzle or problem to solve will get a kick out of trying to solve the puzzle before Mr. Owl does.
Enjoy!
Friendship is a theme that you can find in a whole host of children’s books which is fortunate since it is a topic that often needs revisited with kids. Whether you have students finding it difficult to be a kind friend or your own children are experiencing friendship struggles at school, I’m sure you’ll find a book on the list below that could be helpful in talking to younger kids about the concept of friendship.
When Glitter Met Glue by Karen Kilpatrick
This wonderful picture book is all about what to do when one person in a friendship feels invisible. Find out how Glitter and Glue team up to help Glue shine like some of their other friends.
Peanut Butter and Cupcake by Terry Border
This witty picture book with awesome photo illustrations is a great one to turn to when kids are feeling lonely and struggling to find friends. Read to find out how Bread searches and searches for his perfect pairing.
The Circles All Around Us by Brad Montague
This is one of my absolute favorite picture books for so many reasons. There are so many wonderful themes that can be extracted from this book. If you’re looking for a book about friendship, kindness or inclusivity, this is the one!
This book is all about how the circles of people around us (our relationships) grow as we get older to include, not only family, but also friends, neighbors and other people from our community with whom we connect and feel safe. This book serves as a great springboard for a conversation on how we grow those circles through kindness and by being a good friend.
Dude! by Aaron Reynolds
If you have a child who feels excluded or students making snap judgments about another student, this book is for you!
This book is about platypus and beaver, friends who just want to go surfing. Unfortunately, they are afraid to surf because they share an ocean with shark. As he approaches and they get to know him, though, they find out that maybe there’s more to shark than what they originally thought.
You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown
This is the perfect book for those kiddos who just aren’t sure how to go about making friends.
In this story, we learn from Bear just how hard it is to make friends, how persistence is the key and how sometimes, we find the best friends in the most unlikely places.
I hope you have a chance to check out these wonderful books! In the comments, let me know what other books you like for the theme of friendship.
Teaching kids about acceptance and diversity is, obviously, a very important topic right now. In a world filled with so much hatred, judgment and violence, it’s critical that we turn things around for the next generation.
Check out 5 of my favorite books to start a conversation with kids on understanding and accepting the differences among us.
We’re All Wonders by R.J. Palacio
This is the picture book version of the author’s bestselling book, Wonder. It is the same powerful story of Auggie but contains illustrations and is geared toward a younger audience. This book is a great for reading and discussing topics such as differently-abled people, kindness and belonging in a sometimes cruel world.
I’m an Immigrant Too! by Mem Fox
This wonderful rhyming book tells the story of all the ways immigrants have enriched the author’s home country of Australia. It’s a wonderful way to help children understand the many ways in which people contribute to their communities. Additionally, many children will be able to relate to, and make connections with, the characters in the book.
I’m a Girl by Yasmeen Ismail
Bust those gender stereotypes with this book about a strong, fast and capable little girl who often gets mistaken for a boy. As the story progresses, she befriends a boy who likes pink and princesses. This is a must-read with students who are uncomfortable expressing who they are and what they like.
Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle
Inspired by the true story of a Chinese-African-Cuban girl, this book tells the story of the little girl who just wanted to play the drums but unfortunately, lived in Cuba where it was taboo for girls to be drummers. Read to find out how she was able to break that taboo and realize her dream of being accepted for who she wanted to be.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena
This is the story of a little boy who begins to wonder why his life looks so different than his friends – why he doesn’t have the same luxuries and gadgets. With each question he asks his grandma, her answers help him see the beauty of the world he DOES live in and their life together. A must read for helping students to understand the life can be rich in a variety of ways.
Growth mindset is something we’ve been hearing a lot about in recent years, but what is it really and how do we teach kids about it?
Simply stated, a growth mindset is the belief that you and your brain can grow and learn new things. In other words, you are not just born smart; you can BECOME smart.
The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset. This is where many people, including kids, get trapped. It’s the belief that, if you can’t do something right now, you will never be able to do it.
This simply isn’t true, though. We know that the human brain is malleable, or able to change and grow. It can become stronger through effort, trying new and different things and asking for help, when needed.
The research also shows that parent and teacher interactions play a big role in forming a child’s mindset. We have the ability to help kids become more resilient through our words and actions. We can do this by focusing our praise on the process versus a child’s ability, teaching kids the importance of trying new strategies when they aren’t successful and how asking for the assistance or opinions of others can be beneficial.
If all of this sounds great, but you still aren’t sure where to start, check out these 5 picture books that will serve as a springboard for discussion of this topic.
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
This is, of course, a fan favorite. It is about a little girl who dislikes art class because she doesn’t think she is a good artist. Her teacher encourages her to simply begin with a single dot and see where it takes her. This one interaction begins a journey of discovery for the little girl which is very relatable for many of our kids.
Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson
This is the true story of a little boy born in Ghana with a deformed leg. While most people dismiss Emmanuel because of his disability, his mother pushes him to dream big. He eventually becomes a cyclist who rides across Ghana, spreading his message of perseverance, courage and strength.
The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires
Lou really wants to be brave and climb a tree like all her friends, but she’s never done it before and is convinced she can’t. Despite brainstorming lots of methods for getting to the top of the tree, she isn’t able to make it. Her friends cheer her on and remind her that she can’t do it YET and she can always try again tomorrow. A great reminder for all our kids that they are on their way to accomplishing their goals, even if they haven’t succeeded yet.
I’m Not Just a Scribble by Diane Alber
Scribble realizes he’s different when he meets other drawings and gets made fun of. Eventually, the other drawings come to realize that Scribble is not bad just because he’s different. In fact, Scribble teaches them that he has a lot to add to their lives! A great message to accept others for who they are and what they have to offer the world.
Mistakes that Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions and How They Came to Be by Charlotte Foltz Jones
A wonderful nonfiction book about mistakes that changed the world. Kids will learn how sandwiches, potato chips, Silly Putty and many other common items came to be…by accident!
There are so many wonderful books out there to help teach kids about growth mindset. What are some of your favorites?
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