children / young adult social justice book lists

a little girl navigates her cat's bad day in this picture book about exploring sadness and how we find comfort. annie comes home from school to find her cat, delilah, has had a terrible day and is quite sad. what do you do when your friend is sad? cheer them up with all the things they love! annie tries tv, warm milk, and even yoga! but at the end of the day, no distraction can really make our bad days simply disappear, as annie knows all too well. you just have to face them head-on, maybe have a good cry, and find comfort in those you love. heather smith has written a gentle picture book about how we sometimes have to sit in the sadness of a bad day before we can move beyond it. paired with karen obuhanych's bold, emotive illustrations, readers will feel seen by annie's cat is sad.

it's billy's seventh birthday and no one is more excited than he is to finally be a big boy at the park later that day, billy finds himself in tears after getting hurt in a small accident. when a passing stranger scolds him, telling him that 'big boys don't cry - only silly ones do', billy questions what it means to be a big boy. thankfully, mum and dad and some new friends help billy understand that crying is normal and that everyone does it, including some of billy's favourite and most admired members of his family. for many boys today, there is a fear that expressing emotion is seen as a sign of weakness. this only becomes more evident as they move from boyhood into adolescence. this book helps parents frame emotions in a positive light, normalising the idea that all boys cry, whether they are seven years old, in the armed forces, a fireman or a father - all big boys cry, it does not make them silly

in this poignant story from andrew larsen, a child spends time with a beloved grandmother during her final days and experiences love that will last a lifetime. when grandma gets sick and comes to stay at her grandchild's house, she brings her bird feeder. grandma loves birds. and the child loves the time they now get to have together, drawing pictures of birds and "talking about interesting things." after a while, though, grandma's health declines, and she moves to the hospice. hanging grandma's bird feeder outside the window there makes things better. after a while, though, grandma continues to grow weaker, and her ability to interact lessens. difficult as it is, the child adjusts, knowing that, while the situation keeps changing, their love for each other never wavers. award-winning author andrew larsen beautifully captures the special bond between a child and a grandparent, and sensitively deals with a child's loss of a loved one. using the motif of their shared love of birds and its physical manifestation in the form of the bird feeder allows for a continuity in the child's life that puts the loss in a larger context. larsen offers an authentic, straightforward presentation of the process of a loved one's death, from being sick, to going to the hospice, to participating less and less in their relationship, to death. it will lead young readers to ask their own questions about life, death and how we remember those who die. the cool palette and simple lines in dorothy leung's art evoke empathy for the child's experience, while the presence of the birds adds life and hope to the visual story.

a young boy's fascination with everything he sees around him causes him to be late and upsets his parents, until they come to realize his special gift.

in partnership with the centre for addiction and mental health (camh), tundra is proud to launch an important series of books for children who have to cope with adult-sized problems. young alex’s father had been a policeman until he began to suffer from depression, perhaps the most common mental health issue we face. alex’s questions are those that are often asked by the children of parents who have depression: is the parent simply lazy? does he no longer care? and is it something i can catch, like a cold? in simple, straightforward language, the book explains what depression is and how it is treated. it also prepares a child for working with a helping professional. and perhaps most important, it reassures a child that he or she is not alone. written by canada’s foremost experts in the field, this is an important book to spur discussion and allay fears of those affected by depression.

hi! i'm charlie. in my mind and in my body, all my emotions fight to take up as much space as they can. i like to picture my feelings as balloons. sometimes they're so light they float away. other times, they're so heavy it's like they're filled with water... for highly sensitive kids and the parents, teachers, and families who love them. charlie's experience is relatable to all children who feel big emotions, from joy to fear and everything in between. their story shows that not only is it fine to be highly sensitive, it is in fact a great strength.

what is courage? certainly it takes courage for a firefighter to rescue someone trapped in a burning building, but there are many other kinds of courage too. everyday kinds that normal, ordinary people exhibit all the time, like "being the first to make up after an argument," or "going to bed without a nightlight." bernard waber explores the many varied kinds of courage and celebrates the moments, big and small, that bring out the hero in each of us.

"abigail has a dark cloud. one day it appears and then it's always with her, taking different shapes. at school, it's a ball of worries following behind her. at ballet class, it's a fog that gets in the way of her grand jetés. at a birthday party, it's a shadow that takes away her appetite. how can abigail find a way to step outside her dark cloud when it's always there? and then one day, she has a bright idea. learning to live with and understand her dark cloud, along with some support from her father and a friend, helps abigail find moments of sunshine again. in this evocative picture book, written with compassion and care, a little girl visualizes her depression as a way of learning to cope. the compelling visual narrative and lyrical text combine to give kids tools they can use to understand and express their own feelings of sadness and depression as well as empathize with others. a hopeful but realistic approach to a difficult topic."-- provided by publisher.

david could not stop worrying; his anxiety was growing and growing. david's story will help children learn how to deal with anxiety. includes tips for parents.

after her parents get divorced, emily finds comfort in making and learning about art.

feeling flashcards help children young and old understand and put a name to what they are feeling in a relaxed and enjoyable manner. make learning and understanding emotions fun: todd parr makes understanding feelings easier with these 20 sturdy flash cards featuring 40 different emotions. each card shows two opposite feelings, one on each side, rendered in words and lively pictures. kids will learn what it means to feel silly and serious, calm and nervous, brave and scared, and more in a positive and helpful way. * recommended for children 3 months to 4 years to help them learn and understand the different things they might be feeling but are unsure how to properly express them * features brightly colored illustrations to give a visual of the feelings that help kids relate, even at a young age feelings flashcards are a great learning tool for use at home, school, or daycare to help little minds learn and share all kinds of emotions. * includes 20 full-color cards in a box with a hinged lid * todd parr has published more than 30 books with over 2 million copies in print. he also has a successful clothing line and has co-created an award-winning animated tv series. he lives in berkeley, california

we all feel many different emotions every day. for young children, those feelings can be extra strong. and sometimes, children need help finding the words to describe how they're feeling. this friendly and positive alphabet book gives children those "feelings words," and explores the idea that while some feelings are more comfortable than others, all are natural and important.f is for feelings invites children to share, express, and embrace their emotions--every day! a section in the back provides tips and activities for parents and caregivers to reinforce the themes and lessons of the book.

presents thirteen true accounts of teenagers with varying levels of anxiety disorders, exploring how they addressed their anxiety and dealt with such issues as peer pressure, perfectionism, grief, and self-mutilation.

"maggie feels so nervous reading in front of the class! even though her knees shake like jelly and she can't utter a sound, she is determined to forget her fears" cf. our choice, 2003.

having a pet dragon is very fun! he can sit, roll over, and play... he can candle a birthday cake, lit a campfire, or so many other cool things... but what if your dragon is constantly worrying about so many things? what if he's worried about his math test even though he has studied very hard? what if he's so nervous about his upcoming book report in front of the class? what if he gets so anxious when he has to go get a shot from the doctor office? so anxious that he has a meltdown? what if your dragon is always asking about "what if"? what should you do? you teach him how to deal with his anxiety! how? get this book and learn how! fun, cute, and entertaining with beautiful illustrations, this is a must have book for children, parents and teachers to teach kids the proper way to think, and deal with worry and anxiety! get this book now and enjoy!

agoraphobic sixteen-year-old solomon has not left his house in three years, but lisa is determined to change that--and to write a scholarship-winning essay based on the results.

"photographs and rhythmic text explore the meaning of hope and celebrate its power, especially in difficult times"--t.p. verso.

when felix wakes up one morning, he finds an invisible bucket floating overhead. a rotten morning threatens his mood--and his bucket--drop by drop. can felix discover how to refill his bucket before it's completely empty?

it looks like trouble when fragility, a hippopotamus whose feelings are easily hurt, meets rudy, a rude elephant, on the soccer field.

from the author of the million-copy bestselling phenomenon the invisible string comes a moving companion title about our connections to each other, to the world, and to the universe. shout it from the mountaintops! everyone of us is connected to those we love by invisible strings. since everyone we care about is connected to countless other people, ultimately we are all connected by love... in a universal invisible web. "it breathes as we breathe, pulsating all over our earth, the single heartbeat of life. and do you know what that makes us all? one very big family!" this uplifting story for all ages not only inspires readers readers to recognize, nurture, and celebrate the infinite bonds of humanity, it is also a powerful call for peace and compassion worldwide. read all the books in the invisible string series: the invisible string backpack: your very own tool kit for school--and life! the invisible string workbook: creative activities to comfort, calm, and connect the invisible leash: an invisible string story about the loss of a pet​ the invisible web: an invisible string story celebrating love and universal connection you are never alone: an invisible string lullaby

when jenny and her brother are frightened by events in the world, their parents help them talk about their fears and feel better.

thirteen-year-old robbie leads a double life. it's just robbie and his dad, but no one knows that his dad isn't like most parents. sometimes he wakes robbie up in the middle of the night to talk about dying. sometimes he just leaves without telling robbie where he's going. once when robbie was younger, he was gone for more than a week. robbie was terrified of being left alone but even more scared of telling anyone in case he was put into foster care. no one can know. until one day when robbie has to show the tough new girl, harmony, around school. their first meeting ends horribly and she punches robbie in the face. but eventually they come to realize that they have a lot more in common than they thought. can robbie's new friend be trusted to keep his secret?

when the castle bully discovers bold sir fred is secretly terrified of the dark, he tries to stir up trouble between that brave knight and his lady wendylyn.

briefly describes the beginning and end of life for plants, animals, insects, and people.

what is your blue like? a lyrical ode to colors -- and the unique ways we experience them -- follows a little girl as she explores the world with her family and friends. your neighbor says red is angry like a dragon's breath, but you think it's brave like a fire truck. or maybe your best friend likes pink because it's pretty like a ballerina's tutu, but you find it annoying -- like a piece of gum stuck on your shoe. in a subtle, child-friendly narrative, art teacher and debut author jessica young suggests that colors may evoke as many emotions as there are people to look at them -- and opens up infinite possibilities for seeing the world in a wonderful new way.

"scenes are evocative and provide endless opportunities for discussion with young children. this book is ideal for all libraries as a non-threatening and productive story that can give hope to children who feel like olivia."--slj, starred review the world is a really big place for little kids. when olivia starts to feel overwhelmed by her big feelings, she sprouts vines. they are thorny and twisty and make it impossible for olivia to do the things she loves to do, like ride her bike or play with her friends. plus, no one wants to come near a giant ball of thorns. luckily, olivia has a very special teacher. someone who sees past the prickly and the pokey to the upset little girl and helps olivia learn to manage the vines. this quirky picture book is the perfect introduction to the idea of anxiety and those big feelings that seem impossible to manage. olivia's teacher provides some tricks to help manage the feelings, and a special message at the end of the story encourages young readers to think productively about their own anxieties.

petal is kind, thoughtful, a great baker and a wonderful artist. she also has a temper. a very big, out-of-control temper. and it doesn't help that her barnyard pals like to push her buttons... on the day the farmer announces a fabulous trip to a water park, the horse steps on petal's foot and she has her biggest tantrum yet. the farmer tells petal if she doesn't get her temper under control, she won't be able to go to the water park! what else can she do but stomp away in a huff? then petal meets a swan who shows her a thing or two about behaving. and not in the way you'd expect...

lou spends every saturday with grandad and pops. they walk to the library hand in  hand, like a chain of paper dolls. grandad reads books about science and design, pops listens to rock and roll, and lou bounces from lap to lap. but everything changes one saturday. pops has a fall. that night there is terrible news: pops will need to use a wheelchair, not just for now, but for always. unable to cope with his new circumstances, he becomes withdrawn and shuts himself in his room. hearing grandad trying to cheer up pops inspires lou to make a plan. using skills learned from grandad, and with a little help from their neighbors, lou comes up with a plan for pops.

bernadette and rodney are the best of friends. rodney's not so good at playing cards, but he's great at staring contests. his favorite food is lettuce, though he eats it verrrrrry slooooowly. and he's such a joker! when bernadette goes to sleep at night, rodney is always there, watching over her from his tank. as the seasons pass, rodney moves slower and slower, until one day he stops moving at all. without rodney, bernadette feels all alone. she can't stop thinking about him, but none of her friends seem to notice. except for amar. rodney was a tortoise is a moving story about friendship and loss. it shows the importance of expressing kindness and empathy, especially in life's most difficult moments.

from the creator ofperfectly normancomes a sensitive and reassuring story about what to do when a worry won't leave you alone. meet ruby--a happy, curious, imaginative girl. but one day, she finds something unexpected: a worry. it's not such a big worry, at first. but every day, it grows a little bigger . . . and a little bigger . . . until eventually, the worry is enormous and is all she can think about. but when ruby befriends a young boy, she discovers thateveryonehas worries, and not only that, there's a great way to get rid of them too . . . this perceptive and poignant story is the perfect springboard for talking to children about emotional intelligence and sharing hidden anxieties. thebig bright feelings picture books provide kid-friendly entry points into emotional intelligence topics--from being true to yourself, to worrying, to anger management, to making friends. these topics can be difficult to talk about. but these books act as sensitive and reassuring springboards for conversations about mental and emotional health, positive self-image, building self-confidence, and managing feelings. read all the books in the big bright feelings series! perfectly norman ruby finds a worry ravi's roar

"sam has a new pet. it's a temper, and he found it on the playground. at first, the temper is great company. but before long, it becomes hard to handle, and sam starts to wish it would leave him alone. one dreadful day, the temper takes things too far, and sam knows he has to do something..." -- from dust jacket flap.
when sam's new pet temper keeps getting him into trouble, he has to figure out a way to control it.

a little monster named scaredy boo lives all alone under a bed because he is afraid of everything, until he meets a friendly fellow named spike.

this book outlines easy steps kids can use to overcome their everyday fears. an extensive note to parents gives parents additional information on why fears naturally develop and how to help their kids understand and deal with common fears.

ukpik finds everything boring, even playing! natti tries to change her perspective. ukpik is always bored and restless. natti helps ukpik find creative and fun things to do.

tiu-tiu is frustrated when school starts getting harder. vivi helps her with some tricks to cope with it. see how vivi helps tiu-tiu stay positive when she is feeling frustrated with her school work.

umi and uka have big ideas for their school project, but they get carried away and forget to include sissi in their plans. sissi feels left out.  see how sissi stands up for herself, and finds a way to work together with umi and uka. 

sara has good reason to be upset. her parents have moved to a new neighborhood and she has trouble adjusting to her new school. her grandmother has become ill and moved into her home. now her mother seems to be preoccupied much of the time and is giving sara less attention. like many children, sara just can't seem to cope with all of these problems at once. fortunately, sara gets the help that she needs. with the aid of a counselor and by meeting with a group of children who have had similar problems, sara learns how to cope. now when she gets sad, she knows how to make herself happy again.

after sherman sees something terrible happen, he becomes anxious and then angry, but when a counselor helps him talk about these emotions he feels better.

lily imagines her sadness as a hole, which is getting bigger and swallowing up her life--until a friend shows her how to patch her hole and make it managable.

although he is a very tough pirate, boris von der borch cries when his parrot dies.

it's violet's first day at a new school, and she is starting to feel worried. what if nobody likes her? what if her teacher is mean? unlike your ordinary first day jitters, these thoughts refuse to stay inside violet's head. they pop into the air and become âworry clouds' that won't stop following her! feeling small, alone and invisible, violet must figure out what she's going to do about the worry clouds. if her thinking got her into this mess, can it get her out too? violet's cloudy day is the perfect book for any child who wants help knowing what to do when they worry too much. through violet, the reader learns how to be a resilient and empowered thinker, using positive self talk and a self-compassionate attitude to overcome anxiety.

in this powerful story from christine baldacchino, author of morris micklewhite and the tangerine dress, a young girl navigates social anxiety at family gatherings and works with her father to find a solution. 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. the problem is that the whole shrink family loves parties with loud music and games and dancing. at cousin char's birthday party, violet hides under a table and imagines she is a shark gliding effortlessly through the water, looking for food. and at auntie marlene and uncle leli's anniversary bash, violet sits alone at the top of the stairs, imagining she is a slithering snake way up in the branches. when violet learns that the shrink family reunion is fast approaching, she finally musters up the courage to have a talk with her dad. in this thoughtful story about understanding and acceptance, christine baldacchino's warm text demonstrates the role imagination often plays for children dealing with anxiety, and the power of a child expressing their feelings to a parent who is there to listen. carmen mok's charming illustrations perfectly capture violet's emotions and the vibrancy of her imagination. a valuable contribution to books addressing mental health.   correlates to the common core state standards in english language arts: ccss.ela-literacy.rl.2.3 describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

we use the word hate all the time--"i hate vegetables" or "i hated that movie!"--but what about the hate that actually hurts someone? there are words, symbols, ideas, beliefs, and actions that cause pain--to us, our friends, family, neighbours, and school mates. what if you've caused that kind of pain yourself? or what if you, or someone you know, has been the victim of hate so scary it made you want to cry? real kids from real classrooms share their stories here to help us to see the bias, prejudice, violence, discrimination, and exclusion around us--what hate looks like to them. why? so we can stand against hate and never be the cause of it. and to show us how to cope and get support if we have been hurt. by sharing our stories, we all become stronger. our schools, neighbourhoods, and communities become safer and more kind, and hate doesn't win.

pick yourself up out of the dumps in a guide aimed at showing sad, grumpy, and lonely kids how to talk about what they're feeling, make friends, and boost their self-esteem enough to pick themselves up out of the dumps with a smile. depression and grief coping mechanisms are also addressed. 128pp., color ill.

a picture book about how we can show love to difficult feelings, from the acclaimed author of m is for mustache: a pride abc book and i promise when you're someplace unfamiliar how do you feel? does your feeling live in your tummy where strange creatures roam in fields of prickly grass? does it want to burrow its head deep in the sand where no one can find it? in catherine hernandez's new picture book, young readers are encouraged to show compassion to themselves, their families and their communities, and to imagine where inside themselves they keep their feelings. championing young people for weathering the storms of their many emotions and trying their best, where do your feelings live? is a gentle celebration of all the tricky feelings that make us who we are. this buoyant and touching text is brought vibrantly to life by illustrations from quebec artist myriam chery.

wilma jean worries about everything. she worries about missing the bus, doing a math problem wrong, having friends to play with, and getting carrots in her school lunch. wilma jean's teacher helps her figure out what worries she can control and those that she can't and what to do about both types of worries.

children of parents who drink too much alcohol are affected in many ways. they may experience anger, fear, confusion, and guilt. this reassuring book, written by professionals, offers information in the form of a story about one family's struggle. when dad's drinking ruins a birthday party, everyone wishes that he would just stop. if only wishing could fix the problem! wishes and worries is an excellent way to open a discussion between adult and child. it provides straightforward answers to common questions. why does my parent drink? will i drink too much, too? what can i do to help? is it my fault? the book also includes important information for parents, teachers, and professionals. wishes and worries is an excellent resource for children affected by adult problems.