The Whatifs

Written & Illustrated by:  Emily Kilgore & Zoe Persico For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Mental Health Social Emotional Learning Anxiety Own Voices   Summary:  I have OCD and GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). I was officially diagnosed in college but these two facets of my personality have been around for as long as I…

Love

Written & Illustrated by:  Corrinne Averiss & Kirsti Beautyman For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Social-Emotional Learning Anxiety Family Starting School Love   Summary:  Not only are the illustrations in this book truly resplendent, but it also addresses a topic that nearly everyone has experienced in some capacity or another: separation anxiety. In the…

Gustavo the Shy Ghost

Written & Illustrated by: Flavia Z. Drago For Ages: 3 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Anxiety, Mexican Culture & Identity, Latinx, Day of the Dead, Friendship, Own Voices. Summary: Gustavo is a little ghost that yearns to make friends with the other monsters, but he’s too nervous. He tries unsuccessfully to work up…

Tune it Out

Written By: Jamie Sumner Cover Art by: Celia Krampien For Ages: 10 and up Language: English Topics Covered: Homelessness, Growing Up, Sensory Processing Disorder, Moving, Family, Temporary Custody, Anxiety, Singing, Music, Performance, Poverty. Summary: Lou Montgomery lives with her mother in their pickup truck in a lot of different places. Right now, however, they live…

Shy Ones [released August 4th 2020]

Written & Illustrated by: Simona Ciraolo For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Anxiety, Shyness, Social-Emotional Learning, Friendship, Ocean Animals. Summary:  This book is super sweet, and I’ve been really looking forward to sharing it! It’s been a hot minute since I shared an animal book, but social-emotional learning is one area where I think animal protagonists can…

Becoming Brianna [released 5/5]

Written & Illustrated by: Terri Libenson  For ages: 8-12 years Language: English, some Hebrew.  Topics Covered: Jewish Culture, Judaism, Bat Mitzvah, Growing Up, Friendship, Anxiety, Bravery, Family, Single-Parent Families, Divorced Parents, Financial Strain, Own Voices.  Summary:  Brianna is about to have her bat mitzvah, and she can’t quite seem to remember why she let her mom guilt her into it….

When You Need Wings

Written & Illustrated by: Lita Judge For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Social-Emotional Learning, Fear, New Places, Anxiety, Growing Up, Mindfulness, Coping Strategies.  Summary:  In this uncertain time, we know fear is at an all-time high for a lot of folks.  We’ve been making an effort to share books that focus on social-emotional learning and development, and coping…

Top 5 Books We Read in 2018

2018 was a rollercoaster of a year, with so many opportunities for growth and learning all over the place! We launched this site as a passion project, and we have been so lucky to connect with many people from all over the globe, sharing our mutual love of diverse literature! We have no idea what…

Captain Starfish

Written by: Davina Bell Illustrated by: Allison Colpoys For Ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Social-Emotional Learning, Anxiety, Fear, Courage. Summary:  This book is about a young boy named Alfie, who gets That Feeling when he has to do something new.  Alfie gets That Feeling when he has to participate in running races, at…