mental health

As the school year comes to a close, and kids are enjoying time away from the classroom, remember to encourage them to open up a book or two during the break. Summer reading can help kids hold on to the progress they made during the school year. READING is also a fun & easy form of SELF-CARE that offers mental stimulation, boosts empathy, and provides a sense of accomplishment. Fuel a lifelong love of books! Here are some adventures you can find at your local library, or purchase through locally owned bookstores or online to add to your own collection!

Up to Age 8

The Gruffalo – by Julia Donaldson. A mouse is taking a stroll through the deep, dark wood when along comes a hungry fox, then an owl, and then a snake. The mouse is good enough to eat but smart enough to know this, so he invents . . . the gruffalo! As Mouse explains, the gruffalo is a creature with terrible claws, and terrible tusks in its terrible jaws, and knobbly knees and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of its nose. But Mouse has no worry to show. After all, there’s no such thing as a gruffalo. . . .is there?

The Rainbow Fish – by Marcus Pfister. The rainbow fish with its iridescent scales is the most beautiful fish in the whole ocean. But since he is also vain and proud, he becomes more and more lonely over time. Then he realizes that you can’t win friends through beauty. He overcomes his pride and begins to distribute his glitter scales to the other fish. 

It Must Have Been You - by Zanib Mian. A rhyming picture book that follows a little girl who unintentionally makes a mess everywhere she goes. The story highlights her innocent actions leading to chaos and how her family members initially react with accusations before she ultimately fixes the mess.

My Mouth Is A Volcano: A Picture Book About Interrupting - by Julia Cook.  My Mouth Is A Volcano takes an empathetic approach to the habit of interrupting and teaches children a witty technique to help them manage their rambunctious thoughts and words. Told from Louis' perspective, this story provides parents, teachers, and counselors with an entertaining way to teach children the value of respecting others by listening and waiting for their turn to speak.

The Day You Begin – by Jacqueline Woodson. National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpré Illustrator Award winner Rafael López have teamed up to create a poignant, yet heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone.

When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left – by Marc Colagiovanni. Told through creative language play, and with depth and whimsy, this picture book reminds readers of their own agency and the power they have to direct their own path. Marc Colagiovanni’s lyrical text and Peter H. Reynolds's stunning art create an enduring message of strength and perseverance that is both universal and personal, and one that readers will be drawn to over and over again.

Where the Wild Things Are – by Maurice Sendak. Maurice Sendak's Caldecott Medal-winning picture book has become one of the most highly acclaimed and best-loved children's books of all time. A must for every child's bookshelf. This iconic story has inspired a movie, an opera, and the imagination of generations. When Max dresses in his wolf suit and causes havoc in the house, his mother sends him to bed. From there, Max sets sail to an island inhabited by the Wild Things, who name him king and share a wild rumpus with him. But then from far away across the world, Max smells good things to eat...

Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story – by Reem Faruqi. Lailah is in a new school in a new country, thousands of miles from her old home, and missing her old friends. When Ramadan begins, she is excited that she is finally old enough to participate in the fasting but worried that her classmates won’t understand why she doesn’t join them in the lunchroom. Lailah solves her problem with help from the school librarian and her teacher and in doing so learns that she can make new friends who respect her beliefs. This gentle, moving story from first-time author Reem Faruqi comes to life in Lea Lyon’s vibrant illustrations. Lyon uses decorative arabesque borders on intermittent spreads to contrast the ordered patterns of Islamic observances with the unbounded rhythms of American school days.

My Magical Choices - Teach Kids to Choose a Great Day with their Choices! – by Becky Cummings. No more, "I can't, I don't know, or I'm not!" My Magical Choices presents 13 "I choose" statements that empower children to take responsibility for their days and inspire them to use conscious language and choose to be calm, forgiving, brave, honest, friendly, and much more.

Same, Same But Different – by Jenny Sue Kostecki. Through an inviting point of view and colorful, vivid illustrations, this story shows how two boys living oceans apart can be the best of friends.

Listen, Learn, and Grow: A Whole Body Listening Larry Story to Help Kids Regulate, Listen, and Engage – by McAlister Greiner Huynh.  Listen, Learn, and Grow is a delightful rhyming story that explores the many ways kids can use their whole body as a listening tool. And here’s a hint: Listening looks different for everyone!

How to Catch a Dinosaur – by Adam Wallace. Do dinosaurs still walk among us? Sure, no one has seen one, but if alligators, whales, and even birds still exist, then dinosaurs must too, right? Join the daring How to Catch Kids as they try to wrangle a dinosaur in time for the school science fair and prove they're still around! Parents, young readers, dinosaur lovers, and educators alike will roar with laughter in this dinosaur picture book that blends STEAM concepts with hilarity and clever chaos. Do YOU have what it takes to pluck a prehistoric pal? Perfect for kids ages 4-10, this fun story makes a great birthday and back to school gift, stocking and basket stuffer, or read aloud for any occasion!

I Am Stronger Than Anger: Picture Book About Anger Management And Dealing With Kids Emotions And Feelings (Preschool Feelings Book, Self-Regulation Skills) (World of Kids Emotions) – by Elizabeth Cole.  When children are angry, they can manifest their anger through bad behavior. They might shout, cry, throw things and roll on the floor or all of these things combined. That's why most parents need help managing their kids’ emotions and feelings.

Kindness is my Superpower: A children's Book About Empathy, Kindness and Compassion – by Alicia Ortego.  This charming story with peaceful rhymes and colorful illustrations will explain to your child that it is okay to make a mistake and say I’m sorry. Lucas will teach your child good manners and positive behavior at home, at school, in the store, and on the playground.

Honesty Makes Me Stronger: Social Emotional Book for Kids About Lying, Telling the Truth, and Building Trust for Children Ages 3-8 (World of Kids Emotions) – by Elizabeth Cole.  This inspiring kids’ book about telling the truth follows Little Nick as he learns the consequences of telling even small lies. This engaging and highly relatable story offers a way to teach children about building trust and the importance of being honest.

The Girl Who Makes a Million Mistakes: A Growth Mindset Book for Kids to Boost Confidence, Self-Esteem and Resilience (A Million Mistakes Series) – by Brenda Li. A powerful, award-winning growth mindset book that builds resilience in children and prepares them for life's adversities. Kids will feel strong, confident, and ready to pursue their biggest dreams! Includes effective mindful, positive affirmations to build self-esteem and self-confidence: "I can do this. I am strong. I am unstoppable."

Grumpy Monkey – by Suzanne Lang. Jim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends can't understand it--how can he be in a bad mood when it's SUCH a beautiful day? They have lots of suggestions for how to make him feel better. But Jim can't take all the advice...and has a BIT of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy? Suzanne and Max Lang bring hilarity and levity to this very important lesson on emotional literacy, demonstrating to kids that they are allowed to feel their feelings.

The Day the Crayons Quit – by Drew Daywalt. Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Blue crayon needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. Black crayon wants to be used for more than just outlining. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun. What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?

Lots can change over the Summer and middle schoolers are no exception! The tween years are exciting and come with experiences that inform who they are and shape who they aspire to be. Here are some books that address navigating their new selves and environment as they embark on their milestone adventure!

Charlotte’s Web by E.B.White  - https://bookshop.org/p/books/charlotte-s-web-kate-dicamillo/7888279?ean=9780064400558&next=t Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Wish by Barbara O’Connor - https://bookshop.org/p/books/wish-barbara-o-connor/6860753?ean=9781250144058&next=t Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia - https://bookshop.org/p/books/one-crazy-summer-rita-williams-garcia/8192733?ean=9780060760908&next=t Eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. She's had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a radical new life in California. But when the sisters arrive from Brooklyn to spend the summer with their mother, Cecile is nothing like they imagined. Unexpectedly, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern learn much about their family, their country, and themselves during one truly crazy summer. This moving, funny novel won the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction and the Coretta Scott King Award and was a National Book Award Finalist.

Hello Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly - https://bookshop.org/p/books/hello-universe-erin-entrada-kelly/15280499?ean=9780062414168&next=t Told from four intertwining points of view, in one day, four lives weave together in unexpected ways. Virgil Salinas is shy and kindhearted. Valencia Somerset, who is deaf, is smart, brave, and secretly lonely. Kaori Tanaka is a self-proclaimed psychic. And Chet Bullens wishes the weird kids would just stop being so different so he can concentrate on basketball. They aren’t friends yet, but through luck, smarts, bravery, and a little help from the universe, a rescue ensues, and friendship blooms.

All’s Faire by Victoria Jamieson - https://bookshop.org/p/books/all-s-faire-in-middle-school-victoria-jamieson/7356307?ean=9780525429999&next=t Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with parents working at the Renaissance Faire. She's eager to begin her own training as a squire and prove her bravery as she begins public school after a life of being homeschooled! But it's not easy - Impy falls in with a group of girls who seem really nice (until they don't) and starts to be embarrassed of her thrift shop apparel, her family's unusual lifestyle, and their small, messy apartment. It’s a heartwarming graphic novel about starting middle school, surviving your embarrassing family, and the Renaissance Faire.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-hate-u-give-angie-thomas/17739550?ean=9780062498540&next=t Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

New Kid by Jerry Craft - https://bookshop.org/p/books/new-kid/18907909?ean=9780062691194&next=t Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?

Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes - https://bookshop.org/p/books/planet-middle-school-nikki-grimes/7173096?ean=9781619630123&next=t A game of basketball with the boys-especially her friend Jake-was all it took to put a smile on twelve-year-old, Joylin Johnson's face. Then, everything suddenly seemed to change all at once. Her best girl friend is now flirting with her best guy friend. Her clothes seem all wrong. Jake is acting weird, and basketball isn't the same. And worst of all, there is this guy, Santiago, who appears from . . . where? What lengths will Joy go to--and who will she become--to attract his attention?

Posted by John David Anderson - https://bookshop.org/p/books/posted-john-david-anderson/6434498?ean=9780062338211&next=t In middle school, words aren’t just words. They can be weapons. They can be gifts. When cell phones are banned at Branton Middle School, Frost and his friends Deedee, Wolf, and Bench come up with a new way to communicate: leaving sticky notes for each other all around the school. It catches on. In the middle of this, a new girl named Rose arrives at school. Rose is not like anyone else at Branton Middle School, and it’s clear that the close circle of friends Frost has made for himself won’t easily hold another. As the sticky-note war escalates, and the pressure to choose sides mounts, Frost soon realizes that after this year, nothing will ever be the same.

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead - https://bookshop.org/p/books/goodbye-stranger-rebecca-stead/7348940?ean=9780307980861&next=t Best friends Bridge, Emily, and Tab made a pact: no fighting. But it’s the start of seventh grade, and everything is changing. Emily’s new curves are attracting attention, and Tab is suddenly a member of the Human Rights Club. And then there’s Bridge. She’s started wearing cat ears and is the only one who’s still tempted to draw funny cartoons on her homework. It’s also the beginning of seventh grade for Sherm Russo. He wonders: what does it mean to fall for a girl—as a friend? By the time Valentine’s Day approaches, the girls have begun to question the bonds—and the limits—of friendship. Can they grow up without growing apart?

Reading leads to success. It strengthens concentration as well as the duration of focus. The simple act of reading, a great form of self-care, increases memory and enhances listening skills which are key skills that contribute to success in high school and beyond! A variety of literature builds well rounded knowledge of the world and all the experiences it can offer in and outside of the classroom. Help your teen begin to curate their own collection of knowledge and adventures! Here are a few suggestions!

Animal Farm by George Orwell - https://bookshop.org/p/books/animal-farm-75th-anniversary-edition-george-orwell/6681261?ean=9780451526342&next=t A farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals. With flaming idealism and stirring slogans, they set out to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality. Thus the stage is set for one of the most telling satiric fables ever penned—a razor-edged fairy tale for grown-ups that records the evolution from revolution against tyranny to a totalitarianism just as terrible.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly - https://bookshop.org/p/books/frankenstein-mary-shelly/9616249?ean=9781514651773&next=t Victor Frankenstein has an aptitude for science and whilst at university he discovers a secret that allows him to impart life to non-living matter, and so his creation is born. The creature is not quite what Victor expected and so he flees in fear. Desperately alone the creature begs for a mate so as to have someone who wont fear him. Victor reluctantly agrees but, fearing the creature to be evil, he changes his mind after imaging them to breed and create a danger to mankind. The creature decides he must have revenge and Frankenstein is plunged into his very worst nightmare.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-picture-of-dorian-gray-oscar-wilde/15922431?ean=9780141439570&next=t Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray makes a Faustian bargain to sell his soul in exchange for eternal youth and beauty. Under the influence of Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life, where he is able to indulge his desires while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only Dorian's picture bears the traces of his decadence. The Picture of Dorian Gray offers a disturbing portrait of an individual coming face to face with the reality of his soul. 

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - https://bookshop.org/p/books/sense-and-sensibility-penguin-classics-deluxe-edition-bicentennial-jane-austen/18055627?ean=9780143106524&next=t Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve. Meanwhile, her sister Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love - and its threatened loss - the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller - https://bookshop.org/p/books/catch-22-joseph-heller/7060234?ean=9781451626650&next=t Set in Italy during World War II, this is the story of the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy—it is his own army, which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to excuse himself from the perilous missions he’s assigned, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule: a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes a formal request to be removed from duty, he is proven sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - https://bookshop.org/p/books/fahrenheit-451-ray-d-bradbury/18152942?ean=9781451673319&next=t Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-book-thief-markus-zusak/15280021?ean=9780375842207&next=t When Death has a story to tell, you listen.
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding - https://bookshop.org/p/books/lord-of-the-flies-william-golding/498993?ean=9780399501487&next=t    At the dawn of the next world war, a plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. At first, with no adult supervision, their freedom is something to celebrate. Far from civilization, they can do anything they want. Anything. But as order collapses and power struggles begin, so does the reign of terror as hope of being rescued seems far removed from their reality. This iconic novel remains one of the most unforgettable reads for young adults.

The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-sun-is-also-a-star-nicola-yoon/10216599?ean=9780593815403&next=t Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.
Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.
The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?